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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The chapel of the Archbishops of Vernou-sur-Brenne is one of the rare examples preserved in Touraine of 14th century religious architecture. This unique nave monument, originally covered with a frame, is characterized by two large third-point windows on each side and a five-sided apse, probably prior to the nave. This apse, intended for an angeline vault never realized, preserves traces of polychromy on its inner mouldings. The building thus illustrates the stylistic transitions between the central Middle Ages and the end of this period, with notable Gothic elements.

Around 1458, the choir was decorated on the initiative of Jean Bernard, then Archbishop of Tours, adding a historical and artistic dimension to the chapel. On the outside, the later modifications of the 18th and 19th centuries altered its original appearance: the foothills were removed, and adjoining buildings were erected on the south and west sides, partly framing the building. The hook-shaped gable, visible today, marks the culmination of the structure, while adjacent buildings testify to its gradual integration into the urban fabric.

Ranked a Historical Monument in 1965, the chapel now belongs to an association. Its present state reflects both its medieval heritage and subsequent adaptations, with a precise location at Vernou-sur-Brenne (rue Pasteur), in the department of Indre-et-Loire. The remains of polychromy and the Gothic structure make it a precious witness to the religious art of Tourangeau, despite the transformations undergone over the centuries.

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