Chapel of the Pénitents Noirs

The chapel of the Virgin of Mercy and of Saint John the Baptist or of the black penitents, in the Place Vieille, is a jewel of Alpine popular Baroque art. It is a reminder of the fundamental role played by brotherhoods in our region, known as the ‘Frontier of Baroque’.
The penitents were mutual aid associations, holding a Mont Frumentaire that enabled their confreres to obtain the grain they needed for sowing or simply flour in times of shortage. They contributed to public health by providing access to medicines for the most destitute. The penitents assisted the sick, accompanied them to their final resting place and said masses for the repose of their souls.
The choir in particular is remarkable for its high stucco reliefs. The 17th-century painting on the high altar depicts the martyrdom of St John the Baptist.