Chapelle de Roselend, Religious chapel in Beaufort, France

Chapelle de Roselend is a chapel in the French Alps near the Roselend dam. It was built with tuff stone and sits above the reservoir with views across the lake and surrounding mountains.

A Romanesque chapel stood in the hamlet of Roselend, dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene; a 13th-century document may refer to it, and its bell was cast in 1608. In 1794 four exiled priests from the valley, including the future Archbishop of Chambéry Antoine Martinet, said their first mass there on returning. The chapel was submerged on 6 May 1960 when the Roselend dam filled, and a replacement was built two years later beside the road above the lake.

The chapel keeps the name and dedication of the Romanesque chapel of the hamlet of Roselend, Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. Its bell was cast in 1608, and donations are recorded in 1710, 1757 and 1760. The rebuilt chapel preserves this heritage above the lake.

The chapel is reached by marked hiking trails through the mountains. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and allow time for the walk, as the location is remote and at altitude.

In 1794, four priests returning from exile held a mass at this location, marking an important moment of religious restoration. One of these priests, Antoine Martinet, later became the Archbishop of Chambéry.