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Origin and history

The church Notre-Dame des Graces d'Eyguières is a Catholic religious building located in the commune of Eyguières, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Built in the 4th quarter of the 18th century, it is the work of the architect Esprit-Joseph Brun, who was the owner of it. The church houses a historic organ, on which composer Frédéric Chopin played in 1839, while the instrument was still in Notre-Dame-du-Mont church in Marseille. This detail underscores its heritage and musical importance, although the anecdote predates its final installation in this place.

Ranked Historic Monument by decree of 28 December 1984, the church now depends on the archdiocese of Aix-en-Provence and Arles. Despite her protected status, she suffered arson on April 21, 2019, marking her recent history. However, the building remains consecrated and active in local religious life, while being listed in heritage bases such as Mérimée or the Observatory of Religious Heritage. Its official address, according to the Mérimée base, is 2 Rue Craponne, 13430 Eyguières, on a land cadastralized under the reference AB 296.

The church is part of a broader architectural and historical context, linked to the Alpilles and the Bouches-du-Rhône heritage. Its construction at the end of the 18th century coincided with a period of religious and artistic renewal in Provence, where the cult buildings played a central role in community life. Organs, like Eyguières', were often symbols of prestige, attracting renowned musicians. Today, the church illustrates both the richness of Provencal heritage and the challenges of its preservation, between vandalism and restoration.

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