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Origin and history

The Chapel of the Penitents of Grimaud, officially named Church of Notre-Dame du Coulet, is a religious building located in the commune of Grimaud, in the department of Var. Built at the end of the 15th century (the date of 1482 is engraved on its lintel), it was originally conceived as a symbolic entrance door to the village. His early porch was later blocked to enlarge the interior space, and it became the seat of the congregation of white penitents, dedicated to assisting the needy. Inside, there is a 17th-century altarpiece, a Pietà painted by Paul-Emile Barberi in 1808, as well as relics such as those of Saint Theodore and a statue of Our Lady of the Seven Pains. A gothic inscription recalls that "Monsignor of Fréjus gave 40 days of forgiveness," testifying to his spiritual importance at the time.

Classified as a historical monument by decree of 31 March 1976, the chapel illustrates the Provencal religious architecture of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Its social role was central: the brotherhoods of penitents, like the White Penitents, played a key role in the charity and moral supervision of the communities. These groups, often linked to the Catholic Church, organized processions, alms and ceremonies for the sick or the deceased. The presence of a baroque altarpiece and works of sacred art also reflects the influence of the Counter-Reform, which marked the region with an artistic and devotional renewal.

Today owned by the commune of Grimaud, the chapel retains remarkable heritage elements, such as its stone engraved in Gothic characters or its statues. Its exact address, 16 Place des Penitents, and its listing of historical monuments make it an emblematic place of the Var. The relics and liturgical furniture recall its past use, between cult, penance and community solidarity, characteristic of medieval and modern brotherhoods in Provence.

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