Chapelle de la Garoupe

Chapelle de la Garoupe – a “divine” surprise.

If you do not immediately know what awaits you on the way up the steep Route du Phare, then you can look forward to a “divine” surprise. Here is the Chapelle de La Garoupe, a unique place with scenic views of the Antibes Juan-les-Pins district on one side and the entire coastline towards Nice on the other side.

In the square in front of the chapel you are welcomed by a nice little bistro – what more can you ask for😊

The Garoupe chapel consists of three buildings whose chronological age is difficult to determine: a tower, the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Garde and the Chapelle Sainte-Hélène.

The tower may have been the first building, originally built of wood and then of mortar in the 15th century. The Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Garde was probably built in the late Middle Ages and then enlarged in 1520 after a donation from René de Savoie.

The Chapelle Sainte-Hélène was most likely built after the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Garde. The two buildings have long been next to each other, but they are different and are connected from the outside by a veranda.

Chapelle de la Garoupe has two ships:

– The main nave dedicated to Notre-Dame de la Garde is decorated with a fresco by Jacques-Henri Clergues in 1952/1953 and inspired by two historical events: the visit of Pope Gregory XI to Antibes in 1376 and the donation of René de Savoie to expand the chapel in 1520.

– The secondary ship dedicated to Notre-Dame de Bon Port offers visitors a large 1948 fresco by the painter Édouard Collin.

The altarpiece that adorns the choir was made by master sculptor Joseph Dolle.

At the back of the Chapelle de la Garoupe is another smaller chapel Calvaire which can be seen by taking a small tour past the large Garoupe Lighthouse.

Free access.

By Tommy Sverre – 2022