Chapelle Notre-Dame d'Etang, Gothic chapel in Velars-sur-Ouche, France.
Chapelle Notre-Dame d'Etang is a small chapel built with an eight-sided shape, featuring a dome topped by a lantern tower that reaches toward the sky. A gilded statue of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child crowns the structure at its highest point.
A chapel first appeared at this location in the 1400s following the discovery of a revered statue of Mary in the area. The building visible today was constructed much later, during the final decades of the 1800s.
This chapel has been a pilgrimage destination for centuries, drawing people who come to honor Mary and seek spiritual connection. The religious purpose remains central to how people use and experience the place today.
It is best to visit during the warmer months when the chapel is regularly accessible to the public. Since the location is somewhat removed from main roads, checking opening times ahead of your trip and allowing extra time to find the site are helpful steps.
The large gilded statue of Mary perched atop the dome is a distinctive addition that makes the building instantly recognizable from a distance. This prominent figure was specially engineered to remain securely in place, supported by a substantial internal structure.
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