Timeless whispers echo from the Chapelle Saint-Boniface. This unassuming chapel stands proudly in Lyon. Its history is deeply intertwined with the Franciscan Cordeliers convent. It wasn’t always the grand structure we see today.
Initially a modest chapel it served the Franciscan friars. Their presence dates back to a land grant by the seneschal Grolée. This grant allowed the Cordeliers to establish their convent. The original chapel proved too small. This was particularly obvious during ceremonies following the death of Cardinal Bonaventure in 1274.
Jacques de Grolée the seneschal’s grandson decided to build a larger church. Construction began swiftly. The new Chapelle Saint-Boniface was completed in a mere two years between 1325 and 1327. A rare feature for that era was its southward orientation. It initially housed the remains of Jacques de Grolée himself who passed away in 1327. His tomb lay under the high altar before being moved around 1599. The archbishop of Lyon Pierre IV of Savoy consecrated the chapel on September 18 1328. Interestingly it was initially dedicated to St Francis of Assisi not Saint Bonaventure.
The Chapelle Saint-Boniface underwent several expansions and renovations. From 1471 to 1484 it was significantly expanded. Then it acquired its current name honoring Saint Bonaventure who had been canonized. The choir was restored in 1607. The French Revolution saw the chapel repurposed as a granary. However it returned to its sacred purpose in 1806. Cardinal Joseph Fesch oversaw the construction of its current facade.
Around 1890 surrounding buildings were demolished. This allowed the expansion of Rue Grolée on the chapel’s western side. More recent restoration efforts occurred between December 2021 and April 2023. These efforts cost 750000 euros. The project focused on the main facade stained glass windows and sculpted decor. The restoration reinforced the Chapelle Saint-Boniface’s historical and cultural value. Today this remarkable chapel stands as a testament to Lyon’s rich past. Its architecture its art and its history resonate through the ages. A tangible connection to the faith and devotion of centuries past.