Chapelle Pointue, Catholic chapel in Villèle, Saint-Paul, Réunion, France
Chapelle Pointue is an octagonal chapel with a pointed roof and marble altar, with its interior featuring a rotunda adorned with Gothic-style arches arranged across 24 bays. The structure combines colonial architecture with European religious design elements.
The chapel was built in 1841 by Ombline Desbassayns to evangelize enslaved people. A cyclone destroyed the building later, and it was completely reconstructed in 1933.
The white Carrara marble altar displays a relief sculpture showing the Deposition from the Cross, created by artist Bousquet in Nantes. This religious artwork reflects the connection between Europe and the island during the colonial era.
The chapel is accessible through guided tours organized by the nearby Villèle Historical Museum, which presents the colonial period of the island. Visitors should check the museum's opening hours before planning a visit.
The tomb of Madame Desbassayns was moved from the Saint-Paul marine cemetery into the chapel in 1866, about 20 years after her death. This relocation shows the growing importance of the site to the island community.
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