Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel Saint-Jacques de Tulle, built in the 17th century, is a circular building topped by a bell tower dome. It marked a stage for pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela, and was also known as the chapel of the Barrière or Notre-Dame-de-Montre-Chemin. These denominations reflected its role of orientation towards Spain, indicating two routes: one through the Carmel coast and the Périgord, the other through the Corrèze towards Bordeaux. Its architecture makes it one of the last examples of religious rotundas of this period.

In the 19th century, the original gate was destroyed and replaced by a store, partially altering its original appearance. During the Revolution, the chapel was confiscated as well from the clergy and turned into a warehouse by an iron merchant. This change in usage illustrates the changes in religious buildings during this period. At the end of the 19th century, the discovery of an underground aqueduct passing under the chapel and pouring into the Corrèze revealed an unknown aspect of its history, linked to water management in the city.

The chapel, which was classified as a Historic Monument in 1972 for its facades and roofs, retains a heritage value despite the modifications. Its location on the Gabriel-Peri wharf, near the roads leading to Spain, recalls its historical role in medieval and modern pilgrimage networks. Today, it reflects both 17th century religious architecture and the adaptations forced by the hazards of history.

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