Chapelle de l'oratoire, 18th-century chapel in Avignon, France.
Chapelle de l'Oratoire is an 18th-century chapel in Avignon featuring a prominent portico adorned with paired Corinthian pilasters. The exterior rectangular structure encloses two concentric ellipses within its interior.
Construction began in 1713 and paused briefly in 1719 before resuming in 1730 under architect Ferdinand Delamonce. The chapel was completed in 1749, concluding a building process that spanned several decades.
The name comes from the Society of the Oratory of Jesus, founded in Paris in 1611 and established in Avignon in 1646. The Oratorians opened the Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand seminary in 1669. Since 2006 the chapel has served as a chaplaincy for the Lycée Frédéric-Mistral and as a concert venue during the Festival d'Avignon.
The chapel stands on rue Joseph-Vernet, a short walk from the Palais des Papes in central Avignon. Since 2006 it has served as the parish prayer space of Saint-Agricol, as chaplaincy for the Lycée Frédéric-Mistral and as a concert venue, notably during the Festival d'Avignon. Access depends on these uses, so confirm times locally rather than assuming year-round opening.
During the French Revolution, the chapel was converted into a Patriotic Club and later served as an ammunition storage facility. This repurposing reflects how religious buildings were transformed during turbulent historical periods.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,584 contributors worldwide.