Villa Bethania

Who was the architect of the villa and what special architectural features does the building have?

Villa Béthanie was designed by Tiburce Caminade from Limoux, a well-known architect of the region - Laying of the foundation stone: 3 June 1901 - Completion: May 1905 - Mason: Elie Bot from Luc-sur-Aude - Roofer: Joseph Fabre from Dourgne - Built in neo-Gothic style - A private glass chapel (conservatory/conservatory), which was only added in 1910

What religious symbols and works of art are inside the villa?

Statue of Mary: A terracotta statue after Murillo's painting "Assumption of the Virgin" - Child Jesus figure: A figure of the Infant Jesus of Prague – a particularly revered Catholic relic - Thérèse of Lisieux: A painting of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, also known as "the little flower" - Alphonse Mucha: A painted copy of a tapestry work…

What happened to the villa after Saunière's death in 1917 and what role did Marie Dénarnaud play?

Marie Dénarnaud, Saunière's long-time housekeeper, received permission from the municipal council to continue living in the rectory. For decades, she borrowed money from friends to keep the villa. She claimed to know the *big secret* of Saunière, but took it to her grave in 1953. Noël Corbu became the owner of the villa in 1946 and settled all debts. In 1955, Corbu opened a…

What is the private glass chapel all about and why did Saunière have it built in 1910?

Saunière had the chapel built in 1910 – 5 years after the actual villa was completed (1905) - The glass chapel was a private sacred space, not an official church space, but part of the villa. This allowed Saunière to continue to celebrate Mass, even without an official parish - Equipped with an altar, stained glass windows with symbolism of the Sacred Heart and religious artifacts - spiritual retreat,...