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Origin and history

The Sainte-Chapelle d'Aigueperse, built between 1475 and 1496, is the last vestige of the Auvergne dolphin castle, destroyed by fire in 1574. It was erected by Louis I of Montpensier, cousin of Duke John II of Bourbon, to serve as a funeral chapel in the Bourbon branch. Its foundation, more modest than other holy chapels, reflects its status as a younger branch of the ducal family.

The chapel, classified as a historical monument in 1862, follows a flamboyant Gothic plan with a unique nave and a pentagonal choir. It housed rich furniture, including works of art such as Le Saint Sébastien d'Andrea Mantegna, today at the Louvre. Its portal and parts date from the 16th century, while its bell tower was destroyed during the Revolution.

The Sainte-Chapelle had a dual vocation: funeral (Louis I and his son Gilbert were buried there) and dynastic, commemorating the power of the Bourbon-Montpensier. Its sober yet elegant decoration and stained glass windows (of which few remain) testify to its symbolic importance in the region.

The monument is part of a network of nine remaining chapels in France, inspired by the one in Paris. Its construction is part of a rivalry between the Bourbon cousins, Montpensier seeking to match Moulins, capital ducale, and his holy chapel of Bourbon-l'Archambault.

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