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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The chapel of Saint-Benoît, located in Cavaillon in the Vaucluse, originated in the 14th century, when Benedictines settled on the old Templar site. In 1327, Pope John XXII authorized their installation and annex the hospital of Velorgues to the convent. The works of the present chapel began in 1663 under the direction of the architect Esprit Grangier, at the request of Bishop Jean-Baptiste de Sade, who demanded his opening on the Grand Rue. The construction was completed in 1719, with a dome originally planned in stone but finally made of plaster.

After the departure of the Benedictines in 1792, the chapel knew various assignments: warehouse, barracks, and then emergency chapel for the sisters of Notre-Dame in the 19th century. It was listed as historical monuments in 1948 for its remarkable facade, decorated with triglyphs, metopes and bucranes. The nave, composed of four spans, is surmounted by a dome decorated with false windows and plant motifs in gypsy. The carved wooden door represents Saint Benedict and cherubim.

In 1684, a conflict between Bishop Jean-Baptiste de Sade and Abbess Anne de Milany de Cornillon concerning the orientation of the façade, finally built on the Grand Rue. Master masons Guy Demothe and Pierre Benoît execute the plans modified by Grangier. In the 18th century, the architect Jean-Baptiste Franque intervened on the other convent buildings. Disused in 1938 because of its condition, the chapel was restored around 1967 to accommodate the municipal library and exhibitions.

The facade, of an imposing height, is characterized by a first level rhythmic by Tuscan pilasters and an entanglement decorated with bucranes and warrior trophies. The second level, crowned by a triangular pediment, includes a bell tower and an oculus. The soberer lateral elevations have foothills and rectangular bays. Inside, the dome and arches are decorated with vegetal friezes and oval medallions, reflecting Provencal Baroque influence.

Property of the commune since its decommissioning, the chapel illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of Cavaillon, marked by the successive transformations of its use. Its inscription in 1948 underscores the heritage value of its façade and interior decorations, witness to the sacred art of the seventeenth century in Provence.

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