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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Chapel des Penitents Blancs des Carmes is an ancient chapel located in Place Jean-Boyer, in the medieval city centre of Aix-en-Provence. Built in the 17th century, it belonged to the brotherhood of the White Penitents, a religious community dedicated to penance and charitable works. This type of chapel, typical of the Provence of the time, reflected the importance of the brotherhoods in the spiritual and social life of the cities of southern France. The White Penitents, often from the bourgeoisie or local aristocracy, organized processions, collective prayers and charitable actions for the poorest.

Disused of worship, the chapel was included in the inventory of historical monuments in 1951, thus recognizing its heritage value. Since 2011, it has housed an annex to the Granet Museum, the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts in Aix-en-Provence. This cultural conversion allows the exhibition of works from the Jean Planque collection, deposited by the Fondation Jean et Suzanne Planque. The chapel thus illustrates the transition between a religious heritage and a contemporary museum vocation, while preserving its original architecture.

The building, owned by the commune, is located at 24 rue du Maréchal-Joffre, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department. Its inscription as a Historic Monument in 1951 preserved its 17th century architectural features. Today, it offers a unique framework for the presentation of modern and contemporary art, creating a dialogue between historical heritage and artistic creation. The Chapel of the White Penitents of the Carmelites thus embodies the cultural richness of Aix-en-Provence, between religious memory and museum dynamism.

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