We have come quite often to Nantes, a City that needs to be visited more by all. A wonderful historical city with many monuments to see, many wonderful properties. I was again on my local road warrior mode and as bit not back, decided to give it a refresher to this must to visit City of Nantes, Loire-Atlantique dept 44 of the Pays de la Loire region,in my belle France ; even if old Bretagne! Do read my previous posts on the city as well, For now let me tell you about the former Chapelle de l’Oratoire (arts museum) of Nantes ! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Chapelle de l’Oratoire or Oratory Chapel is an old chapel of the 17C Oratorians located in Nantes. It is located at place de l’Oratoire square, in the Malakoff – Saint -Donatien district. Incorporated into the Hôtel Lelasseur mansion in 1775 ,and in 1858, it was the northern facade of the chapel to the Hôtel de Sesmisons-Lucinge. The facade of the chapel is therefore framed by two massive buildings, Being no longer devoted to the celebration of worship, it has become an annex to the city arts museum (see post), The plan, in accordance with the canons of the counter-reform, is simple: the building does not have collaterals, or ambulatory. On the other hand, the facade, of baroque inspiration, is animated, and decorated with pilasters. There are Corinthian pilasters inside, where heads of carved angels participate in the decor.
The Oratorians settled in Nantes in 1619, and must, under pressure from the town, choose a place outside the city walls. They acquire the Domaine des Hayes, made up of three buildings gathered in a large enclosure. They also took possession of two-thirds of the Mirnerie, property built for François Myron, general of finance in Brittany and mayor of Nantes from 1578 to 1580. In 1625, the City/town hall entrusted them with the educational management of collége Saint Clément (middle school), whom they retained until 1793, From 1630, the Oratorians carried out work, building new buildings, the last being a chapel. This chapel was built between 1651 and 1665, the year it was devoted. Built during the movement of the counter-reform, it belongs to the Congregation of the Oratory until 1793 which became national property, the building became the seat of the Loire-Inférieur (current Loire Atlantique) Criminal Court during the French revolution, then national police or gendarmerie barracks, Archives depot and archeology museum,
At the beginning of 1848, the Chapelle de l’Oratoire was entrusted to a workers’ club, the “national club and the organization of work”. This structure will be mainly called “club of the oratory”, as opposed to the “club on the rue du Calvary”, which then represents the liberal professions. After the overthrow of Louis-Philippe I, these political clubs were formed in Nantes, in the perspective of the first elections of the 2nd Republic. That of the oratory is influenced by rampérisme, “communism of fraternity” and “Icarian communism”, In 1945, the cathedral, damaged by allied bombings during WWII, was closed for repairs. The chapel then temporarily regains a religious function. Funeral marriages, ceremonies and Catholic baptisms are celebrated there. After the reopening of the cathedral, the Chapelle de l’Oratoire is used as ardent chapel for soldiers killed during the wars of Indochina and Algeria, Here, the Dobrée museum and the archaeological museum are brought together. The chapel then welcomed the departmental archives finally, in 1988, it was devoted to the Museum of Fine Arts (Arts museum see post) and fully restored. Today it hosts exhibitions.
The Heritage site of the city of Nantes on the Chapelle de l’Oratoire: https://patrimonia.nantes.fr/home/decouvrir/themes-et-quartiers/chapelle-de-loratoire.html
The Nantes tourist office on the arts museum and chapel: https://www.levoyageanantes.fr/en/places/nantes-arts-museum/
There you go folks, do visit Nantes ,and its wonderful monuments. A must to visit while in the city ; see the former Chapelle de l’Oratoire (arts museum) of Nantes ! Again, hope you enjoy this post as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 