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Origin and history

The chapel of the Annunciation, also called chapel of the Penitents-Blancs-d'en-Haut, is an emblematic religious building of La Brig, in the Alpes-Maritimes. Built in the 17th and 18th centuries, it is distinguished by its ellipsoidal plan and its rich interior decoration, including frescoes and false marbles. It is dedicated to the mystery of the Incarnation and houses a pictorial cycle on the life of Christ, as well as a relic of Saint Charles Borromea acquired in the eighteenth century.

This chapel is the seat of the Brotherhood of the Annonciade, born of a split within the former brotherhood of the white penitents of the Assumption, present in La Brig since 1395. In 1930, the two brotherhoods met again, and the chapel became an annex to that of the Assumption, located on the other side of the parish church. It is listed as a historic monument on March 3, 1949 and was selected as an iconic site for the Heritage Lotto in 2021.

Its architecture includes a triangular bell tower surmounted by a bulb, and its interior, restored in the 19th century, now houses a museum of religious art. There are reliquaries, liturgical clothing and ex-votos from the Notre-Dame des Fontaines shrine. The chapel thus illustrates the importance of the brotherhoods of penitents in the religious and cultural life of the Alpes-Maritimes, while showing a remarkable artistic and architectural heritage.

The chapel is located to the left of the parish church of La Brig, on the Grand Place, and its approximate address is 16 Rue Charles Fenoglio. It belongs to an association and remains a place of visit for its historical and religious heritage.

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