Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

In the middle of the 17th century, the chapel of Saint Mary was built by the visiting sisters, who settled in a convent in the centre of Grenoble in 1652. In the 18th century, this convent, independent of that of Sainte-Marie-d'en-Haut, benefited from a gift from Louis XV, allowing the addition of a doric portal and interior decorations. The chapel, blessed in 1786, was opened to worship before being abandoned in 1789 during the Revolution, when the nuns were expelled.

Between 1792 and the 19th century, the building served as a forage attic, then as an artillery depot, before temporarily sheltering Napoleon's statue in 1870. In the 20th century, it was assigned to the Musée Dauphinois (1906-1968), then transformed into a theatre. Ranked a historic monument in 1988, it now hosts the International Nomadic Music Centre and the festival Détours de Babel.

Architecturally, the chapel is distinguished by its doric portal and its interior decorations of the eighteenth century, which bear witness to its religious past. Its rehabilitation in theatre (166 places) in 1988 preserved its heritage while offering it a new cultural vocation. The facade, located on Rue Très-Cloîtres, and its ranking make it a landmark in the old centre of Grenoble.

Property of the city since the 19th century, the chapel embodies the transition between spiritual heritage and contemporary artistic dynamism. Its history reflects the political upheavals (Rvolution, changes in vocations) and the resilience of the reconverted religious buildings. The festival Détours de Babel now celebrates the music of the world, perpetuating its role as a gathering place.

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