Notre Dame Chapel
Standing on a high rock, the chapel, castle and ramparts that dominated the medieval village of La Garde were built in the early 12th century using locally quarried stone and materials from Gallo-Roman ruins.
The chapel, listed as a Monument Historique, is the former castral chapel. It comprises a single 3-bay nave with a slightly broken barrel vault, and a semi-circular apse with a cul-de-four vault. It was enlarged around 1480 with the construction of the Saint Jean-Baptiste chapel to the north (no longer standing) and the ogival Notre-Dame de l'Annonciade chapel to the south, where Elisabeth de Forbin founded a chapel in 1537. The church was originally topped by a heavy bell tower, which Curé Martin had knocked down during its restoration in 1866, as it was threatening to fall.
A parish church until 1782 and burial place of the lords of La Garde, it was completely devastated in 1793 during the siege of Toulon.
The poet Jean Aicard saved it from the quarrymen's pick by having it listed as a historic monument in 1916.
It was restored between 1983 and 1989, and saved once again thanks to the mobilization of the population, the municipality and local associations, after several tons of rock had been removed.
Theme
- Chapel
- Historic patrimony
- Religious heritage
Spoken languages
- French
Visits
Individual
- Guided tour on request
Equipment / Services
- Pets allowed
Prices
Free access.
Opening
-
Display phone number