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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Pitié Chapel, located at Beaulieu in the Hérault, is a partly Romanesque building dating from the 12th century. Its Romanesque part, classified as a historical monument since 1979, is distinguished by a semicircular apse in Opus Monspeliensis (alternate apparatus typical of Montpellier) and a southern facade supported by foothills. The modern, unclassified nave was later added to the west, partially masking the original structure.

The chapel was mentioned as early as 1153 in a charter, suggesting its central role in the primitive village of Beaulieu. In 1211, Pierre de Montaud donated it to Laurete, who founded a monastery there. From that time on, the site was a place of pilgrimage dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, invoked for the healing of diseases. The building, with a single nave without division into spans, features a blanket of stone slabs arranged in steps and a Romanesque bedside pierced with a curved bay.

Architecturally, the Romanesque chapel is characterized by stone walls assembled in large apparatus, with traces of monspeliensis. Its bedside rests on a base of two seats and is surmounted by a molded cornice. The western facade, partially hidden by the modern nave, retains a truncated triangular gable and a stone cross. The modern nave, of neo-classical style, contrasts with Romanesque austerity by its semi-octogonal pilasters and curved berries.

Owned by the commune of Beaulieu, the chapel (excluding modern additions) has been protected since 1979. Its history reflects both its medieval religious importance and its architectural evolution, marked by later additions. The sources also mention its role in community life, as evidenced by pilgrimages and the monastic foundation in the 12th century.

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