Just ahead, you’ll spot the Joan of Arc Chapel by its dramatic pointed Neo-Gothic façade and its large, intricate rose window, standing just behind the sparkling fountain in the square.
Alright! Picture yourself here in Thouars, back in the late 19th century. The Joan of Arc Chapel rose up in 1889, dressed in sharp towers and delicate stonework, looking every bit the fairy-tale version of a medieval dream. This wasn’t just a chapel-it was the center of a lively Catholic school run by the sisters of La Retraite. By 1941, imagine the echo of 135 students bustling about, maybe sneaking peeks at the grand stained glass or whispering stories about Joan of Arc herself. But like all great tales, the calm didn’t last. In the late 1970s, the place was almost left to the weeds, the chatter of students traded for the silence of empty halls. The town swept in and saved the chapel, giving everything else over to the wild world of parking lots!
But oh, the plot thickens! Since 2010, this dramatic old chapel has had a new beat as a contemporary art center. The stone arches and stained glass soak in bold colors and strange shapes, shaking hands with art from today’s brightest talents-Daniel Buren, Pascale Gadon, Elsa Sahal… quite the guest list. By now, 5,000 to 10,000 visitors wander in each year, craning necks, feeling inspired-or a little puzzled-by what they see. Since 2023, Martial Déflacieux is the new ringmaster, ensuring the creative energy stays fresh. So from sacred lessons and whispered prayers to wild sculpture and bold new visions, this old chapel proves it’s not about what you were-it’s what you can become!
