Espace Sainte Avoye

The chapel was built in 1451 by Louis de Chantemerle, Lord of La Clayette. Aspiring to a certain independence, he wished to have his own church, a favour he was granted by the Bishop of Mâcon. Built in the flamboyant Gothic style, a rare example of this type of architecture in the Brionnais region, it was built near the hospital for the poor. The chapel, the main place of worship in La Clayette, was an annex of the parish of Varennes-sous-Dun until the French Revolution. In 1790, the first municipal assemblies were held in the chapel under the chairmanship of M. La Metterie, a lawyer who went on to become the first mayor of La Clayette. The chapel was gradually abandoned until services were no longer held there. The town council has now landscaped the area around the chapel, giving walkers a haven of peace in the garden. The disused chapel is now a cultural venue, hosting exhibitions, shows and concerts.