Millau artist Lola Pradeilles decorates the stained glass windows of the chapel of the 13th DBLE

Le colonel Brunet, le “Padre” et Lola Pradeilles ont échangé sur le projet. Midi libre – Maxime Cohen

La Légion a fait appel à Lola Pradeilles pour parer la moitié des vitraux qui seront installés dans la chapelle du camp du Larzac.

The order is unique and Lola Pradeilles is entering the military world a little, thanks to the creation she is currently creating. Her 12m² work will adorn half of the stained glass windows that will be installed in the chapel of the Larzac camp. A unique place where ranks fade away and soldiers can meditate. “It's a space where the legionnaire can breathe spiritually, presents the “Padre”, the camp chaplain. It's a project we've had since 2021, we needed a place of worship and there wasn't one.”

The chosen building is therefore located between the Monclar district, the living area of ​​the 13th Demi-brigade of the Foreign Legion (DBLE), and the General de Castelnau district, the historic area of ​​the camp. “We had windows, we needed stained glass, he continues. We succeeded, and we asked local master glassmakers to make a work.”

A gradient of green and red

A stained glass window has already been installed in the Foreign Legion building. 13th DBLE

For the Millavoise, it is a question of representing the Larzacian establishment of the demi-brigade, on half of the stained glass windows of the building. Starting from the historical colors of the Foreign Legion (red and green), Lola Pradeilles therefore represented landscapes of the plateau. “I started with a gradient by attenuating the colors at the end”, presents the artist.

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No painting work on the glass is done. All the shades will be carefully cut and assembled by her to represent the rocky chaos and green expanses of the plateau. “It's Saint-Just glass, mouth-blown and the intensity of the light changes on the same surface of glass, she continues. It's part of my big projects.”

The sketch of the work that will be done in the chapel, 12m² in total. Midi libre – Maxime Cohen

The role of the “Padre” in the regiment

On his fatigues, there is no name. In the camp, he is called the “Padre”. In place of his rank, a religious symbol that shows that he is outside the military organization chart, although he is an integral part of camp life. “I am here to be of service to everyone and to listen, presents that of the 13th DBLE, here for 2 and a half years. I am outside the hierarchy, I also have a role of listening and advising the command and I celebrate a mass every day." If’he is Catholic, no religion is excluded within the walls of the Legion. "If a legionnaire needs an imam, an Orthodox priest or other… I am the one who is responsible for calling him. We are not here to proselytize." He can also go into the field to accompany the troops, travels to the sick, the wounded.

The history of the 13th DBLE on half of the stained glass windows

The Saint-Just glass, displayed on the artist's light table to get a glimpse of the colors. Midi libre – Maxime Cohen

On the other half of the building, another Aveyron artist was called upon. This is Dominique Chatelain, based in Pomayrols, in the cool of the Lot. “The important battles and figures of the regiment will be represented there,” the “Padre” continues. In the choir, there will be motifs dedicated to the Holy Family, because in the Legion, we are a family.”

Lola Pradeilles, Colonel Brunet and the “Padre” around the sketch of the work that will be produced. Midi libre – Maxime Cohen

The final work should be available to discover when the Battle of Bir-Hakeim is celebrated. To carry out this project, the Legion relied on donations from patrons, via its association “Entraide et solidarité de la 13e demi-brigade de la Légion étrangère”, to which it is possible to make a donation on its Hello Asso page.

Colonel Benjamin Brunet, head of the Phalange Magnifique, visited the workshop of the Millavoise glassworks this Friday to validate the project set up by the “Padre” of the regiment. “I am very happy with this cooperation with Aveyron craftsmen who show the establishment of the regiment. There are many links and similarities with us, there is a lot of meticulousness, attention to detail, rigor, excellence… I am amazed by this work.”