Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Bricout Chapel is a funeral chapel located in the cemetery of Estourmel, in the department of Nord (Hauts-de-France). Built in the 3rd quarter of the 19th century, it is distinguished by its Gothic architecture, conceived as a miniature replica of the Sainte-Chapelle de Paris. It stands in front of the church of Saint-Vulgan, in the heart of the village, and was erected at the initiative of Madame Léocadie Bricout, with Henri André de Baralle as master of work in 1850. Its monumental style contrasts with its small scale, typical of the private chapels of the time.

The chapel was listed as historic monuments by order of 6 February 1990, recognizing its heritage value. The building, along with its enclosure and fence (cadastre B 280), is now owned by the commune of Estourmel. Its precise location, 20 Church Street, makes it a significant element of the local funeral landscape. The chapel illustrates the influence of the great Parisian models on provincial religious architecture in the 19th century, while serving as a witness to the bourgeois commemorative practices of the time.

The monument is part of a historical context where wealthy families sponsor ostentatious funeral buildings, reflecting both their piety and social status. The Hauts-de-France region, then in full industrial transformation, saw these architectural achievements coexist with a still dominant rural fabric. The Bricout Chapel, with its Parisian inspiration, also symbolizes the aspiration of local elites to be part of a national cultural heritage, while marking the territory with their imprint.

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