The Chapter House

Historic site and monument

Image illustrative — © Libre de droit - BIT Crémieu

Mairie
5 place de la Nation-Charles de Gaulle
38460 Crémieu

Nowadays, the chapter house is used by the local council for meetings and weddings. But its original purpose was to house gatherings of the chapter, when all the monks came together for Mass.

Several features still bear witness to this function, notably the 17th-century oak stalls. These seat-like compartments were used by the monks during prayer times, as their rule forbade them from sitting.
The coffered ceiling in this room likely dates from the early 16th century.
This style of compartmentalized structure—here made of wood, though it could also have been made of stone—was popular during the early Renaissance as well as the Baroque period.
Originally, this chapter house opened onto the cloister through three pointed-arch openings. They were bricked up in the 19th century, but restoration work has brought them back to light. Today, they can be seen on the wall to the left of the entrance.
Many objects have been brought into this room, which has become the town hall’s ceremonial hall.
On the wall opposite the entrance, one can see spears and upturned scythes—which served as the peasantry’s weapons during the Revolution—as well as the large paintings hanging on the various walls; which were painted and donated by Claude-François Sornin, a former owner of the Château Delphinal.
Chandeliers from the church have been hung from the ceiling.