Chapelle Sainte-Marguerite de Bonneval-sur-Arc, Religious chapel in L'Écot, Bonneval-sur-Arc, France
The Chapelle Sainte-Marguerite de Bonneval-sur-Arc stands in the hamlet of L'Écot at about 2000 metres, among stone houses with slate roofs. The chapel is a small single-nave building with a rounded apse and a bell gable, built of local stone. Its interior walls carry medieval frescoes, and the building is listed as a monument historique inscrit.
The chapel stands in the hamlet of L'Écot, whose stone houses and slate roofs were built by families from Piedmont who crossed the passes with their herds. The building is inscribed as a monument historique. Its walls and medieval frescoes were restored in the late 20th century, when the hamlet was brought back into use after decades of abandonment.
The chapel is dedicated to Saint Margaret of Antioch, whose feast is celebrated on 20 July, the date of the hamlet's patronal festival. Mass is still held here on that day, and the small building serves the scattered farms of L'Écot rather than the village centre below.
Visitors need to walk about four kilometers from Bonneval-sur-Arc to reach the chapel, a journey best made during warmer months. Local accommodations and rest areas are available nearby, so advance planning helps prepare for the visit.
The location served as a filming site for multiple films in the Belle et Sébastien series, bringing international attention to the chapel. Visitors familiar with these movies recognize the landscape and houses that appeared on screen.
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