Our Lady of Liberation, Catholic church atop Mont des Buis, Besançon, France.
Our Lady of Liberation is a Catholic church situated on Mont des Buis in Besançon, built within the fortifications of an old fort. From this elevated position, the structure overlooks the city and commands views across Besançon's roofline and riverside landscape.
The site originated as a hermitage in the 5th century and later became the Chapel of Notre-Dame des Buis. After World War II, Archbishop Maurice-Louis Dubourg established the current church as a memorial in 1949.
The church's name reflects themes of liberation and renewal after conflict, and its interior walls serve as a memorial space acknowledging the local community's losses. Visitors encounter the building as a place where spiritual remembrance and civic memory intersect.
The church can be reached via Chemin de la Chapelle des Buis and maintains regular hours for daily prayers and services. The climb to Mont des Buis is manageable on foot but involves a noticeable uphill walk that visitors should expect.
Thousands of names of diocesan members are inscribed on the church walls, commemorating losses during the war. This dense collection of names transforms the space beyond a place of worship into a physical monument to individual stories.
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