Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel of the Lycée du Sacré-Coeur, located in the city centre of Amiens near the cathedral, was built between 1864 and 1868 by architects Victor Delefortrie and his son Paul. This neo-Gothic brick monument is part of the school building founded in 1801 by Madeleine-Sophie Barat, the cradle of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The chapel, originally dedicated to the religious education of girls, was transformed into a gym at the end of the 20th century before being classified as a historical monument in 2009.

The architects Delefortrie father and son also directed the interior decoration, collaborating with the sculptor Louis Duthoit – the author of the statues now missing, but of which the sculpted blazes of musicians remain – and the architect decorator Gérard Ansart. The facade, framed by two steeples with arrows, features a rosette and an adorned portal, typical of the neo-Gothic. Despite its partial desecration, the chapel retains remarkable heritage elements, such as the works of Duthoit and Ansart.

The school of the Sacred Heart, founded by Madeleine-Sophie Barat, played a key role in the educational and religious history of Amiens. The congregation, established in the city in 1801, developed a school network for girls, marked by an ambitious brick and stone architecture. The chapel, sold in 2016 by its owners, remains a testament to this heritage, protected since 2009. Its official address (3 rue de l'Oratoire) and its inscription in the inventory of historical monuments (Merimée reference) underline its local and architectural importance.

External links