Calvaire du Mont-Arès, Religious monument on Mont-Arès in Nestier, France.
The Calvaire du Mont-Arès is a religious monument with twelve dry stone chapels built along the southeastern slope of the hill. Each chapel holds sculpted scenes from the Passion of Christ protected within stone niches.
Construction began in 1854 under Father Haurou-Bejottes, who led local craftsmen and residents in building the first chapel. Over time, the site expanded to include all twelve chapels that stand today.
Italian sculptors created the scenes in each chapel, showing how faith was expressed through religious art in the 1800s. These works tell stories from the Bible that people came here to see and reflect on.
The site welcomes visitors and offers wheelchair access to the green theater area at the base of the hill. Local guides who speak French, German, and English can help visitors navigate and understand what they are seeing.
Stone blocks from an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Ares were reused and incorporated into the walls of the church that stands on the site. This blending of old and new makes the location layered with different periods of history.
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