| Chapel of St. Aurelianus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Roman Catholic chapel |
| Location | Rue de la Boucherie, Limoges, Haute-Vienne, France |
| Coordinates | 45°49′42″N 01°15′26″E / 45.82833°N 1.25722°E |
| Built | 15th-17th centuries |
| Architectural style(s) | Baroque |
| Owner | Confrérie de Saint Aurélien |
| Official name | Chapelle Saint-Aurélien |
| Criteria | Inscrit |
| Designated | 28 January 1943 |
| Reference no. | PA00100334 |
  Location of Chapel of St. Aurelianus in Nouvelle-Aquitaine | |
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]
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 2 3 4 "Chapelle Saint-Aurélien". tourisme-hautevienne.com (in French). Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ↑ Base Mérimée: Chapelle Saint-Aurélien, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
- ↑ 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.