Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The school of the boys of Carpentras was originally requested in 1592 by the Dominican municipality, which began its construction. The work, slowed down, was resumed in 1607 by the Jesuits under the impulse of Pope Paul V. The latter provided a renowned teaching in grammar, rhetoric and humanity, attracting up to 300 students in the mid-17th century. Several expansion projects were proposed by Étienne Martellange, including that of 1612, partially realized at a cost of 97,027 florins.

The chapel, which began in 1638, was completed in 1687, although its façade remained unfinished. From a plan to a Latin cross, it is distinguished by its sculpted altarpiece decorated with religious trophies and worshippers. The Jesuits led the college until their expulsion in 1768, and the establishment passed into the hands of various church managers, including the Christian Doctrine Corps until 1791. During the Revolution, the chapel was stripped of its liturgical furniture.

In the 19th century, the college was again entrusted to clergymen in 1805. Jean-Henri Fabre taught there from 1843 to 1849. The establishment closed permanently in 1989, while its chapel, classified as a historic monument in 1926, still bears witness to its rich educational and architectural past. Today, the building houses a house of associations and a cultural space, perpetuating its central role in local life.

Among the personalities related to the college are Jean-Henri Fabre, naturalist and teacher, as well as François Arnaud, whose exact link with the institution is not detailed in the sources. The archives at the Vaucluse Departmental Archives and the records of the DRAC PACA offer additional resources to study its history.

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