Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Chapelle Saint-Barthélémy is located in the commune of Montluel, in the department of Ain, in the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Built in the 13th century, it stands on the coast, 80 meters above the city and the Rhone plain. Nearby, a monumental statue of the Virgin and Child, erected in 1869, overlooks the site, while the ruins of a medieval castle and a green theatre complete the historical landscape.

Originally, the chapel was built by Humbert, lord of Montluel, and his wife Alix de la Tour, in honour of Saint Barthélémy. In 1289 it became a parish church, but was devastated in 1349 during a Savoyard ride. Abandoned in the 17th century and damaged during the Second World War, it was restored in 1955 with its original materials: uncut stones, moraine stones and red bricks. Its atypical architecture, composed of two adjoining bodies, bears witness to successive reconstructions.

The chapel bears traces of arches in warheads and a sculpted portal surmounted by a Latin dedication. An ogival window, vestige of an old building, remains on the tower. Ranked a historic monument in 1930, it is now open to the public and accessible from Montluel. The site thus combines religious heritage, feudal remains and panoramic landscapes.

The castle of Montluel's sires, of which only ruins remain, once occupied the hill where the chapel is located. This strategic location, which dominates the region, illustrates the defensive and symbolic importance of the site in the Middle Ages. The 1955 restoration preserved the authenticity of the materials, while consolidating the structure for future generations.

Future

Abandoned in the 19th century, damaged during World War II, the chapel was restored in 1955. The chapel is listed as historical monuments by order of 11 October 1930.

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