Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel Sainte-Roseline, built in the 11th century, is the abbey of the former monastery of La Celle-Roubaud, located in the Arcs in the Var. Originally linked to the Templars in 1200, the site was occupied by the Chartreux from 1260, then by the Franciscans in 1504. The chapel houses the mummy of Saint Roseline, a cartreuse prioress who died in 1329, whose eyes are preserved in a 19th century reliquary.

The mummy of Saint Roseline, exposed in a crystal frame, is in fact a skeleton covered with varnished wax in the 19th century by an Italian doctor. His eyes, preserved according to tradition, attract pilgrimages five times a year for the healing of children. A doctor from Louis XIV allegedly damaged one of them to prove that they were not glass.

The monastery, classified as a historical monument in 1980, preserves baroque works such as a altarpiece by François Brea (1541) and a 16th century Descent of the Cross. After a restoration in 1969 financed by Marguerite Maeght, the site is enriched with modern works: a mosaic by Marc Chagall (1975), stained glass by Jean Bazaine and Raoul Ubac, and sculptures by Diego Giacometti.

The history of the monastery is marked by successive occupations: Benedictines, Chartreux (1260–1420), then Franciscans (from 1504). The name Sainte-Roseline appeared only in the 19th century, although the chapel was associated with the saint in the 14th century. The site, a mixed property (municipal and private), remains a place of worship and artistic heritage.

The convent buildings, partially listed in 1980, include a cloister and facades from the 16th and 19th centuries. The monastery, open to the public, offers visits around its religious history and artistic treasures, mixing medieval heritage and contemporary creations.

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