Chapelle Sainte-Madeleine de Chalet, Romanesque chapel in Massiac, France.
The Chapelle Sainte-Madeleine de Chalet is a Romanesque chapel in Massiac that sits on a basalt cliff overlooking the Alagnon valley. It features a bell tower and a porch known as a caqueteuse at its entrance.
The structure dates to the 12th century and later received two side chapels built in the 13th and 14th centuries. It received historical monument status in 1982.
Inside, the vault displays a fresco showing Christ in majesty surrounded by symbols representing the four evangelists. This religious imagery served as a way for worshippers to understand and contemplate sacred stories.
You can reach the chapel by following marked paths that lead up from the town of Massiac below. The nearest parking is in the town itself, from where you walk up to reach the chapel.
Local folklore tells of two hermits living on opposite cliffs who stayed in touch by stretching a rosary cord between them to form a kind of bridge. This story reflects the isolation that life in this remote location meant for early inhabitants.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
