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Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-des-Miracles chapel, also known as the Notre-Dame-la-Principale church or "Chapelle des Penitents blancs", is a religious building located in Place de la Principale in Avignon, in the department of Vaucluse. Its origin dates back to a 13th century Romanesque building, transformed in the 16th century, especially in its nave, and later modified in 1758 by the architect Jean-Baptiste II Péru. The bell tower was added after these works.

The Confrerie des Penitents blancs d'Avignon, founded in 1527, settled in this place only from the Restoration (early 19th century) and remained there until its extinction in 1948. Originally, under the Old Regime, the White Penitents gathered in the Dominican enclosure. The chapel lost its choir after the French Revolution, marking a break in its architecture.

Since the 1960s, the chapel has been an emblematic place for the Festival d'Avignon, hosting theatre performances with a 164-seat room. It has also been listed as a Historic Monument since 1948, and its management is the responsibility of the municipality. Its exact address, 13 rue Velouterie, makes it an accessible site in the heart of the city.

Avignon had up to seven brotherhoods of penitents, distinguished by colours (white, grey, black, blue, etc.), reflecting the importance of secular religious movements in the region. These brotherhoods played a major social and spiritual role, notably through penance practices and charitable works.

The building, marked by successive transformations, illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of Avignon, between medieval heritage, Baroque modifications and contemporary reuse as a cultural space. Its listing as Historic Monuments highlights its heritage value, both for its history and for its current use.

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