Chapelle Saint-Cado de Belz, Religious sanctuary on Saint-Cado islet in Belz, France
Chapelle Saint-Cado de Belz is a stone chapel on a small island in the Etel River, connected to the mainland by a 91-meter causeway. The building features a semicircular apse with decorated capitals and a 16th-century western door framed by buttresses.
Benedictine monks from Quimperlé took over the hermitage of Saint Cado in 1089 and transformed it into a priory with this chapel. This shift marked the transition from a solitary dwelling to an established religious center.
Inside, there is a stone bed dedicated to Saint Cado where visitors with hearing difficulties seek healing by lying on it. This practice reveals how local faith and tradition remain woven into the place today.
Reaching the island requires crossing the causeway, which can present varying conditions depending on tidal flow. It is wise to wear sturdy footwear and check local conditions before planning a visit.
Excavations uncovered Roman columns buried beneath the building's foundations, suggesting the site held importance long before the chapel was constructed. This discovery hints at a much deeper historical past than the medieval structure alone reveals.
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