An 18th Century Chapel, Listed As A National Historical Monument, In The Middle Of Downtown

An 18th-century chapel, listed as a national Historical Monument, in the middle of downtown Arras, one hour from Paris. The name “Chariottes” comes from Jean A. Chariot, who founded, with his wife Emmelet Huquedieu, a hospital in Arras in 1339. Later on, in 1556, twelve Franciscan nuns from Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise settled here and took the name “Chariottes”, while, in 1767, the sisters acquired the neighbouring Montmorency private mansion, located on the corner of the rue des Lombards (now the rue des Chariottes) and the rue de Jérusalem. As for the actual chapel, it was built between 1769 and 1775, according to plans drawn up by the architect and sculptor Louis Posteau, who carried out an immense urban beautification project of the lower city, known as the “City of Lights”, in the 18th century.

Constructed with two levels, the chapel’s main façade features three bays and a large arched portico on its lower section and one bay topped with a triangular pediment and an oculus on its upper section, while lateral volutes mark the transition between these two architectural entities.

Although the French Revolution may have drove out the nuns momentarily, they returned in 1815, but the chapel was then bombed twice during World War I before the architects Fleury and Gagey partially rebuilt the chapel based on its original design.

As for the main façade, in white stone, it was inspired by the façade of Rome’s Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, which was used as a canonical model for many churches with religious orders in Europe, and specifically for missionary orders. Decorated with four pilasters with ionic capitals, a statue of the Virgin holding the Baby Jesus set within a central niche above the entrance, an oculus and the Roman numeral inscription of 1775 (MDCCLXXV), in addition, several chips and pockmarks on its exterior bear witness to the different global conflicts that it has endured over the years.

Lastly, the nave is topped with a gable roof, which is, in turn, crowned by a spire located between the choir and the nave.
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website: https://www.georisques.gouv.fr/