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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel of the Old Bourg, located in Saint-Sulpice-des-Landes (now integrated in Vallons-de-l'Erdre) in the Loire-Atlantique, is a 14th and 15th century religious building. It is distinguished by an exceptional painted decoration covering all its walls and vaults, extending over 400 m2. This decoration, made in three distinct phases, illustrates fifty narrative scenes centered on the theme of man's redemption. The first painting campaign, carried out between 1447 and 1456, lasted nine years, while the next two lasted from 1456 until the end of the 15th or early 16th century.

The techniques used combine frescoes for the background and flats of color, a typical method of the Middle Ages, and paint on dry coating for details. The alleged sponsor of this pictorial ensemble is the seigneur of the Motte-Glain, although this attribution remains hypothetical. The chapel, classified as a historical monument in 1977, became the property of the Conseil départemental de la Loire-Atlantique in 1979. It is now managed by the department's Grand Heritage Service, which organizes regular guided tours for the public.

The building has been protected as historical monuments since 15 February 1977, a recognition that includes both the structure of the chapel and its entire murals. Its official address, according to the Mérimée base, is 5289 Le Vieux Bourg in Saint-Sulpice-des-Landes (code Insee 44180), in the Loire-Atlantique department. The GPS coordinates available place the site in the delegated commune of Vallons-de-l'Erdre, confirming its territorial anchorage in the Pays de la Loire.

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