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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The chapel of the Bishops of Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbass, built in the 12th century, served as a place for local bishops. It was located at the entrance of the priory, the only way to access the canon buildings and the church. According to tradition, the bishop of Grenoble, fleeing the Arab invasions, transferred the relics of Saint Donat to Jovinzieux before entrusting them to the Canons installed in the enclosure of the ancient castle of the Counts of Burgundy in the 10th century.

The buildings were enlarged between the 11th and 13th centuries, becoming the property of the archbishops of Vienna in 1289, then of the family of Saluces in 1358. Partly destroyed by the Huguenots in 1562, the chapel was acquired by the Jesuits in 1613. Ranked a Historical Monument in 1906, it underwent major restorations in the 19th and 20th centuries, notably in 1887 and the 1960s, where its bays were demurred and its medieval decorations restored.

Architecturally, the chapel is distinguished by its northern façade, surrounded by columns resting on damaged lions, and its semicircular apse decorated with medieval frescoes, including a knight in armor. Inside, the vault decorated with stars on a blue background and the geometric motifs of the windows are a testament to its rich artistic heritage. Although still owned by the municipality, it has received no more regular worship since 2018.

Originally linked to the diocese of Vienna, the chapel was incorporated into the diocese of Valencia after the Concordat of 1802. In the 21st century, it depends on the parish of Notre-Dame de la Valloire, within the Drôme des Collines pastoral unit. Its history reflects the religious and political upheavals of the region, from Arab invasions to the wars of Religion and the French Revolution.

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