Royante

Located in Aubagne en Provence, on the south side of massif du Garlaban, La Royante displays the typical architecture of an eighteenth and nineteenth century Provence bastide. Its most remarkable element is its neo-Gothic chapel.
The property is currently used as a guesthouse and can be visited on selected events, such as the Heritage Days in 2011
The neo-gothic chapel

Accessed directly from within the building or from an outside door, the chapel is located in a wing perpendicular to the main building. The nave has two bays supported by columns with Corinthian capitals. Each bay is decorated with two statues of the evangelists of both sides.

The chorus ends with a canted apse lit by five colorful stained glass of Saint Thomas, Virgin Mary, Saint Dominic, Saint Joseph and Saint Francis.
It has an altar topped by a small canopy, surrounded by two scenes. On the left-hand side, a haloed lamb, symbolizing Christ, is located on a promontory from which flows a source, from which two deers - the faithful - are drinking. On the right-hand side, two doves drinking from the same cup, symbolizing sweetness and Christian virtues.

Before the altar, the pavement, decorated with neo-Romanesque tiles, bears the inscription "Pavete ad Sanctuarium meum", that is to say, "Be reverent upon approaching my sanctuary." Just above, a winged dragon writhes within three circles.
The couple behind the edification of the chapel, Fortuné and Thomasine Broquier, have their initials on each side of the altar. Fortuné Broquier, a wealthy lawyer in Marseille, close to senior officials of the Crown, acquired in 1857 the field of Les Royantes, which then spread over 11 hectares. He is also depicted by a small sculpture at the back of the chapel.

This country house was located half an hour from the church, west of the town of Aubagne, Fortuné Broquier proposed the ecclesiastical authorities to build a chapel so that he and his guests can enjoy the celebration of masses. It was Pope Pius IX himself gave his blessing to the Broquiers, reflecting the influence of the family. He gave them three letters between 1874 and 1877. These dictate the organization of masses, indicate what furniture adopt and mention the possibility of hosting Dominicans. Fortuné Broquier was closely linked to this religious order - hence the choice of the titular of St. Catherine of Siena recalled on a plaster modling in the house.
Masses held at the Royante experienced a real hit with locals. So much so that the local religious authorities expressed their worries. Pius IX had to reiterate its support for the Broquier family in his third letter.

These three letters are used to date the construction of the chapel in the early 1870s. This fits well with the striking stylistic relationship between some elements of the chapel and the church of built in 1872 by the architect Gaullier. The two altars are very similar in their iconography and design. The two churches share their concrete tinted pavement, and their internal architecture.
Nowadays
La Royante is now a charm bed and breakfast

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