Chapelle de Saint-Hermentaire, Draguignan, Medieval chapel near city center in Draguignan, France.
The Chapelle de Saint-Hermentaire in Draguignan is a stone building with walls of small grey-brown blocks and a pitched roof of flat stone slabs. Its front gable carries a small bell gable pierced by an arch that holds a dark bell, topped by a cross; a lower section extends to the right under a roof of reddish-brown flat tiles, with climbing green vegetation on its wall.
The chapel's initial construction dates from the High Middle Ages, possibly the 11th or 12th century, and it has been remodeled many times since. Excavations in the church and cloister by Professor Yann Codou in 1989–1990 revealed a 6th-century monumental complex built over the remains of a Gallo-Roman villa with baths. It was classified as a Monument historique on 21 July 2014.
Mass is celebrated here twice a year, on Easter Monday and Pentecost Monday, when the chapel dedicated to Saint Hermentaire, patron of Draguignan, draws the faithful. Legend places the saint's killing of the dragon that terrorised the city at this very spot. The interior keeps paintings from the 17th to 19th century, among them a Saint Hermentaire killing the dragon and a Judith with the head of Holofernes.
The chapel sits along a country road that connects easily to Draguignan's main roads, making it accessible by car or on foot. It opens primarily during Heritage Days events but can be viewed from outside at other times.
The chapel's listed furnishings include a 17th–19th century set of paintings: Saint Hermentaire killing the dragon, Judith putting Holofernes' head in a sack, and Jael driving a nail through Sisera's head. A stone holy water stoup is also listed. The paintings tie the building to the legend of the saint who, according to tradition, killed the dragon on this spot.
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