During your visit at home, a lot of places to see or visit, especially places of worship. If you have the time and the desire, don't hesitate to take a look at the chapels in our magnificent towns. Here are 9 chapels to discover.
First of all, let us recall what a chapel is: A chapel is a small place of Christian worship, distinct from a parish church. It can be a freestanding building or a simple room within another structure, such as a castle, hospital, school, or even a private home. Its distinctive feature is the presence of an altar, which allows Mass or other religious services to be celebrated there, but it does not have the official status of a parish church.
Chapel of Hargnies
The Hargnies chapel was built by the villagers in honour of the patron saint of Hargnies.
Like several other chapels in the Val d'Ardenne region, it is dedicated to Saint Roch (patron and protector of plague victims).
Let us recall that a terrible plague epidemic raged in the region at the beginning of the 1349th century and that Saint Roch was often invoked as the saint who assists his devotees against the contagion of the plague, among other things… Saint Roch probably brings to mind the legend of Saint Roch and his dog. Here is a brief summary: Saint Roch was born in XNUMX in Montpellier. When he came of age, he distributed all his possessions to the poor and went on a pilgrimage to Rome. He stopped in several Italian cities affected by the Black Death and obtained numerous cures. Unfortunately, he too caught the disease. He then withdrew to a forest to avoid infecting others. Only a dog belonging to a neighboring lord visited him and brought him a loaf of bread stolen from his master's table every day. Intrigued by his dog's antics, the lord followed him and discovered Roch deep in his retreat. He rescued him and, thus, Roch recovered his health. The magistrate of the time implored St Roch and swore to erect a chapel in his honour if it ceased.
This chapel is only visible from the outside.
Saint-Roch Chapel – Vireux-Wallerand
Located in the Vireux-Wallerand cemetery and erected in 1637. Renovated, the chapel finally seems to be reborn. The St-Roch chapel was erected following a plague epidemic that raged in the region at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. As recounted above, Saint-Roch is often invoked as the saint who ordinarily assists his devotees against contagion (of the plague, among others). Saint-Roch is generally represented with a dog.
This chapel is only visible from the outside.
Saint-Roch Chapel – Fumay
The chapel was erected in 1662 under the orders of the town magistrate, in honor of St. Roch, who saved the inhabitants from the Black Death.
In addition to the well-known legend of St. Roch and his dog, a Fumacian legend tells that young girls of marriageable age would kiss the nail fixed to the door while thinking of their loved one. If the marriage was not celebrated within the year, it would take place seven years later.
This chapel is only visible from the outside.
The Chapel of Saint Anne – Revin
A very old chapel from 1870, it is well sheltered in de la Vau in the center of the town of Revin. It was built by the Mézières family, among others, in memory of the soldiers of the war of 1870. In the past, the chapel was visited by young girls looking for their soul mate. The young girls would say to it: “Good Saint Anne dol vau?”; “It’s s’t’in galant that I need”. Its roof is made of Fumay slate, the corners are made of Givet blue stone and the walls are made of quartzite.
The Chapel of Saint Éloi – Revin
The Saint-Éloi Chapel was built by the Faure de Revin family. It was built, along with the towns that bear their name, in 1930, and the work ended with the construction of this chapel in 1936.
The chapel was built in two stages: first the current back and the two rooms on the sides, then by recovering the framework of a dismantled factory of the Petite Commune, the main part was built where the masses are held today. The Faure family donated it to the diocese for the “symbolic franc”.
Chapel of Walcourt – Givet
Dedicated to Our Lady of Walcourt, the chapel, built in 1602, was partly destroyed and rebuilt in 1781 by Toupet de Vignes. It was blessed by Abbot Holdrinet in September 1784.
This chapel has survived several wars. During the revolution, the Russian occupation made this building an Orthodox chapel for its troops. Then, during the First World War, it became a place of worship again in 1 by becoming a Protestant temple for the German troops.
The Walcourt chapel has been classified as a historic monument since 1984.
Chapel of Bon Secours – Givet
It was built after the First World War and was blessed in October 1. This chapel is only visible from the outside.
Sainte-Barbe Chapel – Fumay
The Sainte-Barbe Chapel in Fumay was built in 1821 and is dedicated to Saint Barbara, the patron saint of slate quarries. The chapel was built on the former Fosse des Trépassés, one of the town's most important slate quarries in the XNUMXth century. A cross is visible on the slate roof.
Chapel of Our Lady of Divers-monts – Fumay
Dating back to the 8th century, it has been there since the first living area of the town of Fumay. It was the headquarters of the Slate Workers' Corporation under the patronage of the Virgin of Divers-monts in the 15th century.
In 1610, the building and a nearby convent built by monks were sold as national property during the French Revolution and acquired by a Fumay innkeeper, a certain Joseph Ridoz. Around 1795, he destroyed the buildings to resell the stones. The chapel was rebuilt in 1802. Between 1827 and 1923, the chapel experienced numerous events and destructions.
Tradition: Every year, the statue of the Virgin is taken to the parish church during the Whit Monday procession, where it remains until the Assumption (August 15). Originally, the Virgin was carried by slate workers. The procession is associated with a legend...
The legend: … One day, when she had been forgotten in the church of Fumay, the virgin was overcome by great sadness. When night fell, overcome by nostalgia for the convent, she came down from her pedestal, determined to return to the chapel alone. She made the journey on foot, in the rain, wet and soiled by mud. She then decided to wash herself in the small stream that flows at the foot of the rocks of Divers-Monts in order to return resplendent to her sanctuary. Since that time, the water of the stream has been reputed to be miraculous and is said to have the ability to cure many illnesses.
I hope you enjoyed these discoveries, don't hesitate to share photos of your visits with us!
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