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Origin and history

The Saint-Honorat Chapel, also known as the Saint-Blaise Priory, is a 13th-century Romanesque building located in Les Mées, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. It is mentioned as dependent on the abbey of Boscodon, with a variable title between Saint Blaise and Saint Honorat. Its monolithic tympanum, adorned with an anchored cross, and its arches in the middle of the hangar testify to its Romanesque architecture. It served as a parish church for the Plan-des-Mées before being abandoned.

Historical sources indicate that it was listed as a ruin in 1891 and partially restored before 1899. At that time, she was still hosting some annual Masses. The chapel has been classified as a historic monument since 1983 for its architectural and religious interest, including its Romanesque structures (nef, false transept, flat bedside) and its original tabular altar.

Its history is linked to the order of the Temple in the thirteenth century according to some sources, although its main dependence remains the abbey of Boscodon. The site, surrounded by a cemetery, retains two access doors: one to the west with a carved tympanum, the other to the south opening onto the cemetery. An ebrased bay illuminates the interior, where original elements such as pilasters and berry frames remain.

The archives mention confusion between the titles of Saint Blaise and Saint Honorat, perhaps reflecting changes of vocation or errors of transcription. The chapel, though disused, remains a testimony of medieval Provencal religious architecture, with templar and Benedictine influences. Its classification in 1983 allowed its preservation despite its cultural abandonment.

The architectural descriptions highlight its cruciform plan, its arches in the middle of the wall and its tabular altar, characteristic of rural Romanesque churches. The western tympanum, with its deep-rooted cross, is a remarkable element, as are the berry frames probably dating back to the 13th century. These details confirm his belonging to the medieval Provençal period.

Today, the chapel Saint-Honorat is a communal property that illustrates the religious heritage of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Its history, between priory, parish church and listed monument, reflects the cultural and religious evolutions of the region, from the Middle Ages to its modern protection.

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