Saint James’ Oratory…


In the feudal world, lords never forgot to have a chapel built inside their own house, in order to live out their Faith and to be in perfect harmony with the clergy. Unfortunately, the chapel, which was located at the bottom of the Château at that time, was destroyed in a fire in 1728.

When the Trèves family took over the Château’s destiny in March 2002, they decided to rebuild an oratory in the vaulted hall of the Watchtower. The latter was erected in the sixteenth century to complete the defensive structures of the residence of the Comtes de Challes. The work started in 2004 and was finished on May 30, 2005.
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Description of the chapel

L’oratoire The oratory is made up of two parts, with a small corridor opening on the left onto a niche, thus taking the place of the old tower's former staircase. There, a magnificent Trilogy by Samuel Marechal can be seen, depicting the meeting between two pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela. The younger one is going to Santiago, while the older one is on his way back from the apostle’s tomb; this memorable moment takes place under the protection of an angel.

On the right, a period window with intertwined bars overlooks the outdoors. When entering the main oratory, the visitor will be moved by the fresco made by GĂ©rard Mayel and his pupil CĂ©dric, which shows the way to Santiago de Compostela under the vault of heaven with the Milky Way. On this fresco, St James appears to Charlemagne in a dream to ask him to go and free his tomb in Compostela.

In a niche, a magnificent representation of the pilgrim
St Roch, the patron saint of the sick, may be admired.

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Opposite, a beautiful Virgin of Le Puy opens
out her hand as a sign of welcome and peace.

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The stained-glass windows bring light to two beautiful original coats of arms of the families living in the Château: the Comtes de Challes from 1450 to 1590 and the Milliet family from 1592 to 1792.

The stained-glass windows themselves show coats of arms that we think belong to friends’ families or maybe to conquests made by the Comtes de Challes.

The picture on St Roch’s left shows the European routes to Santiago de Compostela in 1648 with the Four Major Routes (Tours, Vézelay, Le Puy and Arles) which cut across all of Europe to the tip of Spain at Cape Finisterre.

 

A place of contemplation

This shrine is open to everyone who is looking for a moment’s meditation in a constantly changing world. We will be pleased to let you enjoy it in comforting silence.

 

Come and visit the Château’s Chapel on the first floor of the Domaine du Parc.

 

> History of the Way of Saint James in Europe

 
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Château des Comtes de Challes - Montée du Château BP 1 - 73190 Challes les Eaux
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