Chapel of the Oblates

Chapel of the Oblates (Chapelle des Oblats, also known as the Église de la Mission) stands on Place Forbin in the heart of Aix-en-Provence, right where the city's famous avenue, the Cours Mirabeau, comes to an end.

When was the chapel built?

A first chapel on this site dates back to 1625, built to serve a community of Carmelite friars established in Aix-en-Provence. The building visitors see today, however, is later: it was raised between 1695 and 1701 to plans drawn up by the architect Thomas Veyrier, with the façade added in 1697 by Laurent Vallon.

What happened to the chapel during the Revolution?

Like many religious buildings across France, the chapel's fate changed abruptly during the French Revolution. The Carmelites were driven out of their convent, and the chapel itself was repurposed as a Temple of Reason - part of a broader campaign at the time to strip churches of their religious function.

How did the Oblates of Mary Immaculate come to own it?

In 1816, the former Carmelite convent and its chapel were acquired by Saint Eugène de Mazenod (1782-1861), who founded the missionary congregation known as the Oblates of Mary Immaculate that same year, in that same city. The congregation's original purpose was to re-evangelize the rural population of Provence, which had drifted away from religious practice in the aftermath of the Revolution. The chapel became a training house for young priests preparing for that missionary work, which is why it is also known locally as the Église de la Mission, the Church of the Mission.

What makes the interior worth seeing?

For such a compact building, the interior is unexpectedly striking. The nave, built on a Latin-cross plan without side aisles, is topped by an elliptical dome that heightens the sense of vertical space. Light enters through a skylight set into the dome and four oval windows, while composite pilasters with their original decorative carving support the structure. The result is an interior that feels considerably larger than the chapel's modest footprint from the outside would suggest.

Is the chapel a protected historic monument?

Yes. The building was listed as a historic monument in France in 1911, recognizing both its architectural design and its role in the city's religious history.

What is the chapel used for today?

Since 2012, the adjoining former convent has housed the Centre International Eugène-de-Mazenod (CIEM), an international center that welcomes students and hosts formation sessions for Oblates arriving from around the world. The complex was renovated in 2014, work that preserved the historic character of the interior while updating the building for continued use.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Chapel of the Oblates located? It stands on Place Forbin, right at the top end of the Cours Mirabeau, in the historic center of Aix-en-Provence.

Who designed the building? Thomas Veyrier drew up the architectural plans, with construction running from 1695 to 1701; the façade was designed separately by Laurent Vallon in 1697.

Why is it also called the Église de la Mission? Because from 1816 onward, after Eugène de Mazenod acquired the property, it served as a formation house for missionaries being trained to work among the rural communities of Provence.

Can visitors go inside? The chapel sits within the grounds of the Missionnaires Oblats community and is tied to the activities of the Centre International Eugène-de-Mazenod - it is worth checking current opening arrangements before planning a visit.

Is this the only site connected to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Aix-en-Provence? No. Aix-en-Provence is where Eugène de Mazenod founded the entire congregation in 1816, and the Chapel of the Oblates remains one of the most significant sites tied to that founding history.