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Origin and history

The chapel of Sainte-Claire de Moulins, located in the Allier en Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, is a Catholic building dedicated to Saint Claire of Assisi. Founded in the 15th century as an integral part of a convent of colettine clarisses, it was partially rebuilt in the 17th century. This convent, established in 1421 by the Duchess of Bourbon near the city walls, housed a religious community until its dispersion in 1790 during the Revolution.

Under the Terror, in 1794, the chapel served as a prison for seventy-six religious and refractory priests, before their deportation to Rochefort. Sold as a national property in 1795, the convent was demolished, leaving only the chapel. It became a theatre from 1797 to 1847 and was bought by the city in 1820. Made to worship in 1854 during the Second Empire, it now hosts Sunday Masses and classical concerts.

Architecturally, the chapel is distinguished by its nave of four vaulted spans in overturned boat keg, its polygonal choir flanked by two chapels, and a south side lower formerly connected to the convent. The western gate, adorned with a quadrilobe, and an oculus illuminating the facade testify to its Gothic style. Inside, a painting by Gilbert Sève (1647) depicting a Child Virgin and 19th century stained glass windows remain, despite the disappearance of the original decor in the 1970s. The modern brass altar, by Michel Sabatier, replaces the destroyed former high altar.

Listed as a historic monument in 1947, the Chapel of St. Clair embodies a religious, architectural and memorial heritage. Its history reflects the political and social upheavals of France, from the Ancien Régime to the Revolution, including its rehabilitation in the 19th century. Today owned by the municipality of Moulins, it remains an active place of worship and a cultural space open to the public.

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