Chapel of St. Aurelianus, Limoges

The Chapel of St. Aurelianus (French: chapelle Saint-Aurélien; Occitan: chapela de Sant Aurelhan) is a 15th and 17th-century chapel that hosts the relics of Saint Aurelianus in Limoges, Haute-Vienne, France. It is an official Historic Monument.[1]

Chapel of St. Aurelianus
TypeRoman Catholic chapel
LocationRue de la Boucherie, Limoges, Haute-Vienne, France
Coordinates45°49′42″N 01°15′26″E
Built15th-17th centuries
Architectural style(s)Baroque
OwnerConfrérie de Saint Aurélien
Official nameChapelle Saint-Aurélien
CriteriaInscrit
Designated28 January 1943
Reference no.PA00100334
Chapel of St. Aurelianus, Limoges is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Chapel of St. Aurelianus, Limoges
Location of Chapel of St. Aurelianus in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

History

The chapel was originally built in 1471 to host the relics of Saint Aurelianus[1] that were located in the ruined church of St. Cessateur (down the Rue des Pénitents-Rouges). In the 17th century, the choir was extended and decorated in the Baroque style. During the French Revolution, the building was sold as a National Good to a member of the Confrérie de Saint Aurélien (Brotherhood of Saint Aurelianus), a brotherhood of butchers.[1] The brotherhood still owns the chapel today. The chapel remains an important worship place for the residents of La Boucherie neighbourhood.

The chapel was listed as a Historic Monument in 1943.[2] In March 2019, the fourteen Stations of the Cross were stolen from the chapel.[3]

Architecture and decoration

The chapel has an onion dome made of chestnut tree shingles.[1]

In spite of its small size, the chapel of St. Aurelianus has rich furniture, among which:

  • A 15th-century statue of Saint Catherine;
  • A 15th-century group of statues representing Saint Anne and the Virgin Mary with Child Jesus eating what a local tradition says is a kidney.
  • A baroque altarpiece whose centre features a painting of the Transfiguration of Jesus. The altarpiece hosts the shrine of Saint Aurelianus.

References

  1. "Chapelle Saint-Aurélien". tourisme-hautevienne.com (in French). Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  2. Base Mérimée: Chapelle Saint-Aurélien, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  3. Pierre Vignaud (29 March 2019). "Le chemin de croix de la chapelle Saint-Aurélien de Limoges a été volé". Le Populaire du Centre (in French). Retrieved 6 November 2019.
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