Chapelle des pénitents blancs, Medieval chapel in Brantes, France

The Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs stands at the entrance to Brantes, a village of stone houses terraced above the Toulourenc. Its plain stone facade is pierced by a round niche holding a black Madonna above the doorway. Inside, the single nave now holds information panels and temporary exhibitions on the village and the Mont Ventoux slopes.

Built in the early 18th century, the chapel replaced an earlier structure dedicated to Saint Alexius that could no longer serve the community's needs. Its construction marked a shift in how the local believers organized their religious and charitable work.

The chapel belonged to the White Penitents, a lay brotherhood whose members wore white habits and took part in processions and funeral rites in Brantes. The round niche above the door holds a black Madonna statue, a detail visitors can spot from the square. The building now serves as an information point and exhibition space for the village.

The chapel is reached on foot through the narrow lanes of Brantes, a hilltop village above the Toulourenc Valley; the nearest parking lies below the village, so allow time for the climb. It opens as an information point and exhibition space on the initiative of the local community organization, which also documents the restoration work. Hours vary with the season, so confirm them before setting out.

The building sits on the slopes of Mont Ventoux overlooking the Toulourenc Valley, making it a notable landmark in one of the region's most sparsely populated areas. This remote setting shows how faith and landscape were deeply connected for the small communities that sustained this place.