Chapelle de La Visitation

Situated on the Place de la République, the Chapelle de la Visitation is one of the very few beautiful Regency-style buildings in western France. Listed as a Historic Monument, the chapel was built between 1723 and 1737.

The cross-shaped sanctuary is dominated by a dome. The main façade is richly decorated with a portico of Corinthian columns framing a Rococo doorway. It underwent its first complete interior and exterior restoration in 1863/1864. During this period, the grand staircase on the rue Gambetta and the small staircase on the Place de la République side were built.
The Visitation has remarkable furnishings, including an altarpiece of the Sacred Heart dating from 1751, various paintings and a superb sculpture of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

The building has not been restored since. Faced with the gradual deterioration of the exterior, which was also affecting the interior, the town of Le Mans decided to carry out a complete restoration of the building.
Begun in 1997, the restoration work was carried out in 2 phases, on the exterior and interior, and was completed in the summer of 2015.

Opening times: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 12pm and from 3pm to 5pm. Depending on the availability of the volunteers responsible for opening hours.