Saint Louis

Place de la Citadelle, 62000 Arras

About this building

Built in 1676 in the heart of the citadel, it was not designed by Vauban, who nevertheless approved the plans. It is said to have been dedicated to Saint Louis due to the presence of ancient bas-reliefs representing King Louis IX.

It was desecrated between 1830 and 1866 and lost its religious function to be used for military purposes (drill hall, artillery depot, shop).

In 1867, Napoleon III had the entire décor altered during a major renovation campaign. A new allegorical and military décor was sculpted in the Flemish style. This profusion of ornamentation (rosettes, trophies, garlands, etc.) contrasted sharply with the sobriety of the original classical style. From then on, the chapel took on a composite appearance.

Having suffered during the First World War, it was subsequently restored and became a memorial in honour of the dead of the Engineers. Still consecrated, it has been listed as a historic monument since 1920. The Arras urban community acquired it in June 2010.

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The front

A tall window framed by Corinthian columns supports a curved pediment decorated with a Virgin…

A tall window framed by Corinthian columns supports a curved pediment decorated with a Virgin and Child and the inscription ‘Mater Dei Ora Pro Nobis’. Volutes decorated with foliage bear medallions of Louis XIV and Napoleon III. Religious and military symbols appear beneath the entablature. A central niche once housed a statue of Saint Louis, now lost, while trophies of arms evoke the reigns of Saint Louis and the Second Empire.

Commemorative plaques

4,000 soldiers' names are engraved on white marble plaques set into the base, making the chapel…

4,000 soldiers' names are engraved on white marble plaques set into the base, making the chapel a true memorial to the dead of the Engineers. A few black marble plaques honour other regiments, those who died in 1870 and the governors of the area.

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The painting by Lucien-Paul Pouzargues

In the centre of the apse, a painting by Lucien-Paul Pouzargues (1878-1957) depicts a Poilu, a…

The nave

The rectangular nave, surmounted by a panelled vault, ends in a cul-de-four apse. Neoclassical…

The rectangular nave, surmounted by a panelled vault, ends in a cul-de-four apse. Neoclassical in style, its walls are punctuated by Corinthian pilasters topped by a straight entablature. These pilasters and the tribune covering the entrance are the only interior ornamentation.

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