Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Caprais Chapel of Castillon-du-Gard is a 12th century Romanesque building built on the possible remains of a Carolingian construction. Isolated in the middle of the vineyards near the D192 road, west of the village, it is distinguished by its austerity and semicircular bedside adorned with a single curved window. Its shell limestone masonry and pink tile roof reflect the local techniques of the time.

The history of the chapel dates back to 896, when the king of Provence Louis the Blind gave it by diploma to the bishop of Uzes. Having become a place of pilgrimage known for its miracles, it is mentioned in the archives as a major religious site. The neighbouring village, Castillon-du-Gard, appeared in the texts from 1207 under various denominations, evolving to its present name in 1694.

Ranked a historic monument in 1945, the chapel was restored in 1986 by the 2nd Foreign Regiment, as evidenced by a commemorative plaque on its southern façade. Its sober architecture, marked by massive foothills and a partially closed curved portal, illustrates the Provençal Romanesque style. The unique nave, vaulted in a cradle and divided by a doubleau, leads to an apse vaulted in cul-de-four, typical of the religious buildings of the region.

The archives highlight its past role as a spiritual stop, while its current structure – with its bolt holes and its departure from an unfinished bell tower – evokes the challenges of its medieval construction. Today, it remains a silent testimony of 12th century devotion and craftsmanship in Languedoc.

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