Chapelle Sainte-Radegonde de Chinon, Romanesque chapel in Chinon, France
The Chapelle Sainte-Radegonde de Chinon is a chapel carved into the tufa cliff on the edge of Chinon, in the Loire Valley. It has two naves, one of which is entirely hollowed out of the rock, while the other is built against the cliff face.
The chapel was built in the 11th century on the spot where Saint Radegund is said to have lived as a hermit in the 6th century. Over the following centuries, it became a place of pilgrimage and received new additions during the medieval period.
The chapel takes its name from Saint Radegund, a Frankish queen who chose to live as a hermit in this area during the 6th century. Her presence is still felt in the rock-cut section, where carved figures and dedications to her remain visible on the walls.
The chapel sits at the foot of the cliffs below Chinon's castle and can be reached on foot from the old town. Opening hours vary by season, so it is worth checking current conditions before making the trip.
Among the 12th-century wall paintings inside is a hunting scene in which some historians have identified figures linked to the Plantagenet family. Scenes of secular life painted inside a place of worship are rare for that period and make this site stand out among similar chapels.
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