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Origin and history

The chapel of the Parisians, also known as the Chapel of the Dead, is a 17th century religious building located in the Massif de la Sainte-Baume, in the commune of Plan-d'Aups-Sainte-Baume (Var). Built in 1629 on the initiative of the White Spirit, the general controller of the decimes of Aix-en-Provence, it was designed to celebrate Masses in memory of the deceased of his family. With an annual pension of 30 pounds, she was to host fifteen Masses a year, including one for the Feast of the Dead, "in honour of her parents, friends and enemies.".

Saccagé during the French Revolution, the chapel was restored several times, especially after 1800. Ranked as historical monuments in 1913 with three oratories neighbouring the 16th century, it suffered an advanced degradation in the early 2000s. A major restoration, completed in 2009 under the direction of the architect of the Bâtiments de France Bernard Fournie-Eche, earned him the "Riber of Heritage 2009". His original bas-relief, representing Saint Maximin giving communion to Mary Magdalene, was then moved inside the chapel of Hotellerie.

In the Louis XIII style, the chapel has a rectangular structure of 5 meters side, with stone walls and a wooden shingle roof. His name "Charle des Parisiens" comes from the donor's house, Esprit Blanc, while his alternative name, "Chale des Morts", reflects his memorial vocation. It is located in the state forest, on the road leading from the cave of Sainte-Baume to Saint-Pilon, a historic Marian pilgrimage site.

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