Former Jacobin Chapel

On your right, just behind the wall, stands an elegant Gothic building—quiet and unassuming, yet steeped in history: the former Chapel of the Jacobins. It’s the last surviving piece of what was once a major Dominican convent founded in Beaune in the 13th century. Back then, the Dominican friars—known in France as the Jacobins, after their first convent on rue Saint-Jacques in Paris—came here with a clear purpose: to preach the faith and fight heresy at a time when the Church was reinforcing its authority. The convent was first built just outside the city walls, but quickly gained influence and became a key part of Beaune’s religious and intellectual life. The chapel itself, built in a pure and slender Gothic style, served as a place of worship, teaching and community gatherings. Like many religious buildings, the Jacobin convent was seized during the French Revolution. Its buildings were sold off, repurposed, or even destroyed. The chapel was one of the lucky survivors, but its purpose changed dramatically over time. It became a warehouse, a meeting hall, a military depot—until its historical and architectural value was finally recognised in the 20th century. Today, the former chapel has found a new life as an exhibition space. Its vaulted ceilings and stone walls now provide a stunning backdrop for contemporary art, from photography and sculpture to multimedia installations. Prayer has given way to creativity, but the quiet beauty of the space still speaks volumes.