Cultural heritage Chapelle de la Visitation

The chapel of the Visitation Sainte-Marie, or chapelle des Visitandines, is located in the grounds of the former Visitandines convent. It dates from the second half of the 17th century (1675). This order of nuns, who observe the rule of Saint Augustine, was founded in Annecy in 1618 by the grandmother of the future Madame de Sévigné. Authorization to found their convent in Crest was given in October 1630 by Louis XIII. Their convent comprised 40 sisters and 55 cells. They were dispossessed of their property during the French Revolution, and the convent became the property of the town and was transformed into a hospital. The façade is in light-grey ashlar, with two fluted lateral pilasters with pedestals and sculpted capitals framing the doorway, which is enhanced by a richly decorated truncated pediment. A niche above the pediment houses a statue of the Virgin and Child. It wasn't until 1926 that the hospital was equipped with a surgery department, and 1935 with a maternity ward. 2013: the hospital is moved to a gerontology center. Inscribed by decree on April 10, 1981.