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Origin and history

The chapel of Mercy, also known as the chapel of the Black Penitents, was built in the middle of the seventeenth century in the navigator district of Saint-Tropez. His work, begun in 1635, was completed in 1636. It was designed to house a hospital and became the meeting place of the Black Penitent Brotherhood from 1656. This brotherhood, dedicated to assisting the sick and the deceased, organized processions and festivals, such as the Chandeleur, where the statues of Saint Vincent and Saint Victor were exhibited.

In 1776, the chapel temporarily served as a parish church because of the age of the main building, a decision not well received by the Black Penitents. After the Revolution, it was sold as a national property in 1808, then bought by private individuals who returned it to the parish in 1818. Black Penitents used until their dissolution around 1854. Closed to worship for a long period of time, it was restored in 1973 (clocher, roof, facades) and re-opened in 1997.

Architecturally, the chapel is distinguished by its bell tower covered with varnished tiles, typical of the Provencal coast, and its serpentine portal, a local green stone. Joined the historical monuments in 1947, it still plays a central role in the Tropezian traditions, especially during the bravades of May, feasts honoring the patron saint of the city. Its history reflects the close links between the maritime community, religion and local heritage.

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