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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Louis de Saintes, originally a neo-Gothic chapel, was built in 1876 on the initiative of the management of the Saint-Louis Hospital. Designed by architect Eustase Rullier, it extends the former residence of the 17th century citadel governor, now integrated into the hospital centre. Its sober architecture, marked by a walled gate and octagonal bell tower, hides a nave with a cross-dogive inspired by the radiant style, while stained glass windows signed Dagrand adorn the choir.

The site occupies a rocky piton called "Capitole", heir to a medieval fortress that disappeared after the Wars of Religion. In 1609, Governor Louis de Pernes erected a modern citadel, quickly dismantled by order of Cardinal Richelieu to avoid its use by Protestants. Only the governor's residence remains, transformed into a hospital in the 17th century. The 19th century chapel thus perpetuates a historical stratification, combining military, medical and religious functions.

Inside, the chapel is distinguished by its nave of three spans, vaulted with dogive crosses, and its bay windows realized by the Bordeaux master glassmaker Dagrand. The building, discreetly integrated into the hospital building, reveals its identity only through its portal and stone bell tower. This heritage illustrates the adaptation of places of power into places of care and worship, typical of urban recompositions post-Renaissance.

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