Saint-Foy Chapel

Your eyes were probably first drawn to the old archway crossing the street, but it’s the building on the left that really deserves your attention — the Saint-Foy Chapel, also known as the Chapel of the White Penitents. First mentioned in 1228, it’s one of the oldest active places of worship in Montpellier. Originally located beside the Camin Roumieu, one of the four pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, the chapel stood near a main entrance to the medieval city. During the Wars of Religion, it was heavily damaged — twice — and by 1568, only the lower walls and the arch had survived. For over 50 years, the ruins served as an open-air cemetery, until the Catholic Brotherhood of White Penitents stepped in. In 1623, they began rebuilding the chapel. From the outside, it looks simple and unassuming, but step inside and you’ll find stunning baroque décor: gilded wood panels with paintings, carved wooden sculptures in the choir and sacristy, and a spectacular coffered ceiling with 21 painted compartments, created between 1671 and 1691. Locals, with typical southern flair, dubbed it “the Sistine of Languedoc.” Listed as a historical monument since 1995, the chapel still belongs to the White Penitents Brotherhood, and while entrance is free, opening times vary throughout the year.