Construction of the chapel XIVe siècle (≈ 1450)
Main digging and building period.
XVe siècle
Addition of stone porch
Addition of stone porch XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Decorative elements like the chamfer.
16 mai 1972
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 16 mai 1972 (≈ 1972)
Registration by ministerial decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Troglodyte Chapel (Box AT 505): entry by order of 16 May 1972
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
Sources do not mention any specific historical actors.
Origin and history
The Troglodyte Chapel of the Écheneau, located in Rochecorbon, has been a historic monument since 1972. It is distinguished by its integration into the rock, typical of the troglodytic structures of the region. A 15th century porch, decorated with a chamfer, gives access to a gallery carved in the rock, leading to the chapel itself. The right side wall, the only masonry element, is pierced by 14th and 15th century windows, including a three-legged warhead and an oculus. Inside, a late Renaissance altarpiece, made of cut stone, marks the altar's location.
Before the Revolution, the whole belonged to the chapter of Tours, stressing its religious and historical importance. The vault, entirely dug in the rock, and adjacent rooms, like a reduced room accessible by a low arched door, testify to the ingenuity of the medieval builders. Architectural elements, such as rounded lintel windows or low arches, reflect the styles of the 14th and 15th centuries, while adapting to the constraints of the troglodytic site.
The chapel was classified as a Historic Monument by order of 16 May 1972, thus recognizing its heritage value. Its state of conservation and its unique features, such as the hollow marking the altar's location or the carved details of the porch, make it a remarkable testimony of medieval religious architecture in Touraine. Available sources, including the Mérimée bases and the Observatoire du Patrimoine Religious, confirm its anchoring in local history and its role in the cultural landscape of Indre-et-Loire.
