Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pouey-Laün, Religious sanctuary in Arrens-Marsous, France
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pouey-Laün is a small chapel located on a rock-carved platform at about 930 meters elevation in a mountain setting. Inside, a painted ceiling vault decorated with stars and carved wooden details frames a baroque altarpiece at the center of the space.
The building was originally constructed in the 12th century but was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1660 and fully rebuilt in 1717. This reconstruction shaped the appearance of the chapel as it stands today.
The chapel takes its name from a nearby spring and displays ornate wooden carvings and a baroque altarpiece inside, reflecting the religious craftsmanship traditions of the Pyrenees region. These decorations show how faith and artistic skill came together in mountain communities.
The chapel key is available from the Val d'Azun Tourist Office in Arrens-Marsous, allowing self-guided visits throughout the year. Because the building sits partway up a mountainside, comfortable walking shoes are recommended for reaching the entrance.
Over centuries, the chapel served various unexpected roles beyond worship, including as military barracks and a training seminary for priests. It was even used as a filming location for television, showing how the building adapted to very different purposes.
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