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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel of Saint John, also known as the cemetery chapel, was built in the 12th century in Chancelade, Dordogne. It was built by Abbé Hélie and consecrated in 1139 by the bishop of Périgueux Geoffroi (or Gaufrède) of Cauze, who also blessed the adjacent cemetery. Its typically Romanesque Saintonge architecture is distinguished by a gate in the middle of a hanger decorated with harpsichords and an engraved PAX currency, as well as an apse in cul-de-four.

Ranked a historic monument on 2 March 1912, the chapel illustrates the perigordin Romanesque art with its unique vaulted nave in a broken cradle. The west facade, surmounted by an Agnus Dei in bas-relief, and its touring columns demonstrate remarkable craftsmanship. Originally a parish church, it was replaced by the neighboring abbey, now extinct as the main place of worship.

Archaeological sources, such as the works of Jules de Verneilh (1858) or Marquis d'Abzac (1880), highlight his role in local religious history. The chapel, owned by an association, remains a preserved example of the medieval heritage of the Périgord, linked to both the cult and the community life around the abbeys.

Its rectangular plan and decorative elements (damiers, medallions) reflect the influence of Saintongese workshops, while integrating into the monumental landscape of New Aquitaine. The accuracy of its location (11 Chemin de Puyrousseau) and its state of conservation make it an accessible site, appreciated for its authenticity.

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