Notre-Dame-de-Vie Chapel
A chapel among cypresses, next to the house where Picasso spent his last twelve years
The story
Before you is the chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Vie, Our Lady of Life. An avenue of tall cypresses leads to it, and the landscape looks like Tuscany. The chapel is old. In the mid-seventeenth century it was rebuilt on its earlier plan. Until 1730, families from all around brought stillborn babies here to have them baptized. The walls inside are covered with ex-votos, thank-offerings to the Virgin. The chapel has been protected as a historic monument since 1927. Next door, behind the fence, is the Mas Notre-Dame-de-Vie. Pablo Picasso bought it in 1961. He lived and worked here until his death on April 8, 1973. The house is private and closed to visitors. In 2012 the chapel was restored with help from the state, the region, the department and local people. Every July, a classical music festival runs for a few days in its garden.
Visiting
Free entry. July and August: daily, 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–19:30; May, June and September: weekends, 10:00–12:30 and 14:00–19:00; October to April: Sundays, 10:00–13:00 and 14:00–17:00. Bus 26 to the “L’Orangeraie” stop. Parking nearby. Hours are best checked on mougins.fr.
On the way
Photos
Sources
- Ville de Mougins — Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Vie
- Ministère de la Culture, base Mérimée — Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Vie (PA00080770)
- Côte d’Azur France — Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Vie
- Musée national Picasso-Paris — Picasso’s final years
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