Presentation:
Event in partnership with the association of Friends of St Jean - free visit of the chapel and its ex-votos classified as historical monuments.
A bit of history:
For over a thousand years, the Priory Saint-Jean-de-garguier has been part of the Provençal heritage. Originally a pagan place of worship, the Priory became a parish of the bishopric of Arles from the 6th century. The present chapel was built in 1646.
The 4 wings of the two-storey building are attached to the chapel and are articulated around a central courtyard, called the «enclosure», or the patio. This complex constitutes the Priory Saint-Jean-de-garguier.
The Priory has a unique collection of more than 300 painted ex-votos. They constitute an exciting historical fresco through the representation they give of the life of the Provençaux from the 15th to the 20th century. Most of these ex-votos have been restored thanks to the association of the Friends of Saint-Jean-de-garguier.
The Priory is a place of pilgrimage that continues on June 24, the feast of Saint John the Baptist. After successive renovations, the Priory has become a Diocesan House that wishes to offer a warm welcome in a soothing and rejuvenating setting.