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Origin and history

The chapel of Saint-Tropez-des-Platanes, also known as the chapel of the convent, was built in the 16th century in Saint-Tropez, in the Var. Its first official mention appears in the cadastre of the late 15th or early 16th century. In 1554, the Community Council ordered its collective construction, under penalty of a fine for the recalcitrants. Originally located outside the walls, it was rebuilt several times, taking its present form in 1764, as indicated by the date engraved above its door.

The archaeological excavations carried out by the Archaeological Center of Var in 1995 revealed that the site once housed a Roman villa and an ancient cemetery. In the 17th century, a convent of capuchins settled against the chapel, later replaced by the Ursulines after the Revolution. The convent then became the retirement home Les Platanes, while the chapel, bought by the city in 1992, was completely restored between 2010 and 2014.

The chapel contains a collection of marine ex-votos and a bust of St Tropez, reproduced identically from the original during the works. It has been listed in the Historical Monuments since 1954 and remains a central place of local devotion, especially during the Bravade, an annual procession. According to legend, it would mark the location of the burial of the patron saint of the city.

Among its remarkable elements are a altarpiece, a cross path, statues (including that of Saint Tropez placed in a rediscovered niche), and restored painted decorations. The terracotta floor and the wooden stand were also redone. The chapel thus illustrates centuries of religious and architectural history, from ancient origins to modern transformations.

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