Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Oiseaux de l'île de la Possession, Catholic chapel in Alfred Faure, Crozet Islands, France.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Oiseaux is a small rectangular chapel on Possession Island in the Crozet Islands, with a flat metal roof facing toward Eastern Island. The structure is compact, measuring just a few meters across, and can accommodate only a handful of visitors at a time.
Construction of this chapel began in 1984 following the death of a young ornithologist in the archipelago. It was built as a memorial for those who perished in this remote location.
The east-facing wall shows a fresco of the Virgin Mary with open arms, with two courting albatrosses beside her, showing how faith and wildlife connect here.
Reaching this chapel requires coordination with scientific expeditions to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, as the location has no regular transportation connections. Visitors need to plan well in advance and be prepared for severe weather and remote island conditions.
The French postal service released a 5.20 franc stamp in 1997 showing the chapel with its original wooden belfry, which has since become a rare collectible among stamp enthusiasts. This commemorative stamp remains one of the most memorable pieces depicting the location.
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