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Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-des-Vertus chapel, located in La Flèche in the Sarthe, finds its origins in the Gallo-Roman era, at a crossroads of Roman roads between Le Mans and Angers and Tours in Laval. This first sanctuary, dedicated to Saint Ouen, became the first parish of the city before being rebuilt in the 11th and 12th centuries under the impulse of Jean de Beaugency, seigneur of La Flèche. The Romanesque portal, still visible today, dates from this period.

In the 14th century, the building changed its name to the church of Saint Bartholomew, dependent on the priory of Saint Thomas. Falling in ruins in the 17th century, it was restored between 1644 and 1674 by the Jesuits of the Royal College of La Flèche, with the financial support of Louis XIII. These works transform the chapel into a place of pilgrimage dedicated to Notre-Dame-des-Vertus, inspired by the sanctuary of Aubervilliers venerated by the king. The Jesuits set up a rich collection of statues, paintings and educational furniture in the context of the Counter-Reform.

During the French Revolution, the chapel was sold as a national property in 1791, then bought in 1794 by Mrs.Coquiny-Desprez, who restored it to worship. In the 19th century, Abbé Gourmenault-Desplantes handed it back to the parish of Saint-Thomas, triggering a new restoration campaign led by Jesuit architect Stanislas Tournesac. The stained glass windows, destroyed in 1944 during allied bombings, were restored after the Liberation. In 1934, the chapel was listed as historical monuments, preserving its architectural and furniture heritage, including woodwork classified in 1906.

The building, of simple design with a unique nave and a flat bedside choir, preserves Romanesque elements (Portail du XIIe siècle), 17th-century additions (lateral chapels, sacristy) and a rich interior decor. The glazed vault, decorated with Marian litany and plant motifs, as well as the stained glass windows of Antoine Lusson (1848) illustrate his artistic heritage. The chapel also houses 17th and 18th century terracotta statues, including a Virgin with Child transferred in 1762 after the expulsion of the Jesuits.

Today, the Notre-Dame-des-Vertus chapel remains a place of worship and visit, open daily. Its history reflects the religious and architectural evolution of La Flèche, from Gallo-Roman origins to modern restorations, including the decisive influence of Jesuits and local sponsors such as Louis XIII.

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