Chamerolles (Loiret)

Between the cities of Pithiviers and Orléans, in the castle of Lancelot du Lac, lord of Chamerolles, a Huguenot chapel was erected.

Protestant services of worship were held in a private castle

The castle was built by Lancelot 1st du Lac, whose second spouse was Louise de Coligny, the sister of field-marshal de Chatillon, the father of Admiral Gaspard II de Coligny. The latter was close to King Louis XII and governor of Orléans. His grandson Lancelot du Lac joined the Protestant forces in the early days of the wars of religion, in 1562. He was commander of the field-marshal’s personal troops. The Chapel in Chamerolles was used as a place of worship.

The castle, surrounded by a moat and Renaissance gardens, was recently purchased by the Loiret local authorities.

The Castle in Chamerolles is an important landmark in the history of Protestantism north of the Loire River, as is Châtillon-Coligny.

The chapel

In 1989, during renovation work in the chapel, behind a painting featuring the Assumption of the Virgin, was discovered a text of the Tables of the Law in gold letters on a blue background, along with traces of the Lord’s Prayer, and a Huguenot version of the Apostles’ Creed (“the holy universal church”).

The chapel was the place of worship for the reformed of Chillieurs-aux-Bois.

Chamerolles (Loiret)

Chamerolles, loiret

Itinerary to this location

Bibliography

  • Books
    • DUBIEF Henri et POUJOL Jacques, La France protestante, Histoire et Lieux de mémoire, Max Chaleil éditeur, Montpellier, 1992, rééd. 2006, p. 450
    • LAURENT René, Promenade à travers les temples de France, Les Presses du Languedoc, Millau, 1996, p. 520
    • REYMOND Bernard, L’architecture religieuse des protestants, Labor et Fides, Genève, 1996

Associated tours

  • Surviving Temples built before the Revolution
    Some regions escaped destruction due to the late incorporation into France as was the case for Alsace because the Westphalia treaties specifically mentioned that the Edict of Fontainebleau should not...

Associated notes

  • Gaspard de Coligny (1519-1572)
    Gaspard de Coligny born in the influential Châtillon family, was naturally at the service of the King of France. However, after being made prisoner at the siege of Saint Quentin,...

  • Lieux de mémoire dans le Centre
    Cette région regroupe, au sud et à l’ouest de l’Ile-de-France, les départements de l’Eure-et-Loir (28), du Loiret (45), du Loir-et-Cher (41), du Cher (18), de l’Indre (36) et de l’Indre-et-Loire...