The Notre-Dame-de-Santé Chapel

This chapel is located on Avenue Notre-Dame-de-Santé in Carpentras.

Since the 15th century, this small sanctuary has been used by devotees who cross the bridge over the Auzon river to enter or leave Carpentras. According to legend, a miracle performed in 1629 turned it into a major sanctuary for religion in Carpentras. In a time where the area was ravaged by the plague with deaths piling up over the weeks, the bells in the little chapel were said to miraculously start tolling by themselves at 3 in the morning on 10 July, heralding the end of the devastating epidemic.

Ever since, the chapel, which was renamed Notre-Dame-de-Santé (Our Lady of Good Health, who is called upon in the event of disease or injury), has had its own dedicated following. Ex-voto offerings attest to the devotion of the people. Some of them involve inscriptions engraved into the stone, while others take the form of figurative paintings on canvas or card (the painted ex-voto offerings have been housed at the Inguimbertine since 1937). As a sign of its popularity, and thanks to funding from the City of Carpentras and specifically from Bishop Malachie d’Inguimbert, the chapel was rebuilt following the plans created by Antoine d’Alleman and was consecrated in 1748.

In 1813, Mademoiselle de Saint-Véran donated the chapel to the Carpentras hospital.