Chapelle de la Miséricorde

Considered one of the finest examples of Baroque religious architecture in France, this extraordinary church is almost too much to absorb in one visit. The building belongs to the Pénitents Noirs brotherhood, a religious fraternity established in the 14th century, but its opulent design dates from a few centuries later, during the golden age of the Baroque period (and indeed of the Pénitents Noirs themselves, before the intrusion of the French Revolution). The frescoed ceilings, and soaring blue and gold columns create a grand backdrop for more sombre treasures such as Jean Miralhet's 15th-century masterpiece La Vierge de Miséricorde or Louis Bréa's painting of the same title, finished three decades later in 1485.