Tiers Ordre Chapel

Tucked into a corner of Place de la Révolution française, the Chapelle du Tiers Ordre isn’t exactly easy to spot. But don’t let its plain facade and small size fool you. Inside, it’s full of artistic and historical surprises. To understand the history of this chapel, we first have to talk about the Dominican convent next door, as the two are closely connected. The story starts in 1245, when King James I of Aragon gave land to the Dominican Order—land previously occupied by a hospital for people suffering from leprosy. In about twenty years, a church, cloister, and meeting hall for monks were built here, each were modified and expanded several times between the 14th and 19th centuries. A cloister-cemetery was also added on the south side of the church, inspired by Perpignan’s Campo Santo. But this addition didn’t last, and in 1774 it was replaced by the Chapelle du Tiers Ordre you see today. From outside, the building doesn’t have many decorations except for an unusual stone frieze. But the best part is yet to come. Step inside, and you’ll find yourself facing one of the few examples of Louis XVI architecture in the Roussillon region. You’ll walk through a single nave, bordered by galleries with iron balconies showing typical decorations from the late 1700s. Finally, you’ll arrive at the chapel’s choir—the true masterpiece here. The paintings show Christ, God the Father, angels, and even Minerva, a Roman goddess. These religious artworks include small military details, recalling that in the 1800s, the chapel served as an army storage facility. Handed over to the city at the end of the 20th century, the Chapelle du Tiers Ordre now hosts concerts of sacred music and exhibitions, including Visa, the renowned international photojournalism festival.