Chapelle des Templiers, Gothic chapel in central Avignon, France
The Chapelle des Templiers is a Gothic chapel in central Avignon featuring four bays of equal length with pointed arches typical of the period. The interior preserves the spare appearance of a 13th-century religious building, with stone walls and tall windows framed in the Gothic style.
The Templars received permission to build this chapel in 1273, and construction was completed in 1281 when it became known as Notre-Dame-de-Bethléem. The chapel arose during a period when Avignon was becoming a significant center for the order in Provence.
The chapel takes its name Notre-Dame-de-Bethléem and shows the simple style that the Templars favored in their houses of prayer. Walking through, you notice how the order valued straightforward design over elaborate decoration.
The chapel is accessible through a passage at Le Petit Louvre in the Old Town and sits near several museums and historical sites. A visit typically takes 20 to 30 minutes, and it is wise to arrive in the early morning or late afternoon when fewer visitors are around.
After the French Revolution the building became a stable with hay storage and later served as a restaurant with added neo-Gothic details. These unexpected uses left marks on the structure that remain visible today.
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