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Origin and history

The chapel of Seigne, also known as the Jehan de Seigne Chapel, is a former funeral chapel built in 1526 in the municipality of Bléré, in Indre-et-Loire. It was erected on a land which in the 18th century became the cemetery of the city. Although tradition attributes its construction to Jehan de Seigne, then twelve years old, it is probable that his father, Guillaume de Seigne, was the initiator. The latter, treasurer general of the king's artillery, intended this monument to house the family tomb. The chapel, classified as a historic monument in 1875, underwent a complete restoration in 2020, including the reconstruction of its missing lantern before 1890.

The chapel is distinguished by its Renaissance architecture, with a portal decorated with military motifs evoking the function of Guillaume de Seigne. Its square plane, extended by a semicircular apse, is surmounted by an octagonal dome. The flamboyant berries and gargoyles, added in the 19th century, complete its decor. Originally located on the outskirts of Bleré, it was incorporated into the municipal cemetery in 1776, when it was already in ruins, without its altar and tombs.

Ranked among the first protected historical monuments in France, the chapel of Seigne illustrates the funerary art of the Tourangelle Renaissance. Its decoration, free of religious symbols, reflects the influence of lay sponsors and their social status. The restoration of 2020 gave the building its original appearance, while preserving later additions such as gargoyles. Today, it reflects both local history and the evolution of funeral practices in the Loire Valley.

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