Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Calvary of the Recollets of Romans-sur-Isère, located in the Drôme, is a faithful reconstruction of the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross followed by Christ in Jerusalem, leading to a calvary and the Holy Sepulcher. Ranked a Historic Monument since 1986, this place combines spirituality and romanticism, also serving as a cemetery since the 19th century. His topography, evoking that of Jerusalem, made it an ambitious project as early as the 16th century.

The monument was designed in 1516 by Romanet Boffin, an easy merchant of Romans, to offer a local alternative to the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, then made perilous by conflicts with the Turks. Inspired by two Franciscans returning from Palestine and after his own journey, Boffin built the 14 stations on a hill near the city, outside the ramparts. The first stone was laid in 1517, and the site was entrusted to the Franciscans, with the construction of a chapel (future Saint Croix church) and a convent.

As early as the 16th century, Calvary became a place of major piety, attracting faithful and benefiting from gifts, as evidenced by a letter from Louise de Savoie in 1525. The inhabitants attributed him miraculous virtues, illustrated by local legends, such as that of a barrel of wine inexhaustible during the works. The site was also the purpose of the annual Palm procession, where the collegial chapter bore the relics of Saint Barnard.

Suffered in 1562 during the Wars of Religion, the calvary was restored and entrusted to the recollets. The French Revolution transformed it into a cemetery until 1812, while the monastery, bought by Chartreux, became a public establishment. In the 19th century, the Way of Cross was extended to 21 stations in the city and 19 in the enclosures, with funeral chapels built by wealthy families. However, the site was abandoned in the late 19th century.

The rebirth of the Calvary began in 1967 thanks to the Association of Friends of Calvary, which undertook a campaign of clearing. Ranked a historic monument in 1986, the site today retains its entrance gate, funeral chapels, its central calvary and scattered remains, bearing witness to its rich devotional and romantic past.

External links