Sanctuaire Notre-Dame d'Ay, Medieval Marian sanctuary in Saint-Romain-d'Ay, France.
The Notre-Dame d'Ay sanctuary sits on a rocky outcrop above the Ay River, with a chapel featuring a rectangular keep and adjacent castle buildings. These stone structures form a single compact ensemble where military architecture and religious space once coexisted.
The site began as a chapel within a castle during the Third Crusade era and was controlled by the Counts of Tournon for generations. The religious wars of France later destroyed many of its original furnishings and left lasting marks on its character.
The chapel houses a black Madonna statue that represents a medieval tradition interrupted by religious conflict. This image remains central to the pilgrimage practices that visitors observe today.
The sanctuary is accessible from outside freely, but visiting the interior requires checking current opening hours and available tours. The approach involves walking up to the rocky outcrop, and the hilltop location offers views across the surrounding landscape.
The sanctuary contains a carillon of ten bells, with one bearing images of three different Marian shrines: Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Notre-Dame du Puy, and Notre-Dame d'Ay. This single bell connects the place to a broader pilgrimage network across the region.
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