Construction of the chapel 1579 (≈ 1579)
Seen from the officers of the Abbey after divine protection.
1871-1872
Expansion and decoration
Expansion and decoration 1871-1872 (≈ 1872)
Sacristy added, interior decor redesigned after Prussian invasion.
8 septembre 1965
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 8 septembre 1965 (≈ 1965)
Official protection of the chapel and its furniture.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pitié, including its furniture (Box F 308): Order of 8 September 1965
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character named in the sources
The texts do not mention any specific individuals.
Origin and history
The Notre-Dame-de-Pitié chapel, located in Fontevraud-l'Abbaye in the department of Maine-et-Loire, was built in 1579 at the initiative of the officers of the Abbey. Its construction is the result of a vow made, thanking the Virgin for protecting the community during the wars of Religion or an epidemic of plague. This monument, marked by Renaissance ornamentation (ionic pilasters, interrupted pediment, pot à feu), embodies local devotion and gratitude to the Virgin Mary.
In 1871-1872 the parishioners, spared by the Prussian invasion, financed a sacristy in thanksgiving and took over the interior decor. This reshaping articulated the space around a Virgin of mercy carved at the end of the sixteenth century, complemented by an artistic view of the Golgotha dominant Jerusalem. These additions reflect renewed piety and a desire to commemorate collective trials.
Classified as a historic monument on September 8, 1965, the chapel includes its furniture in the protection. Its location, southeast of the Abbatial complex of Fontevraud, at the crossroads of the rue de l'Ermitage and the road of Couziers, highlights its anchoring in the local religious and historical landscape. The restoration of 1872 and its current status bear witness to its enduring heritage importance.
