Sanctuaire de Notre-Dame de La Peinière

The Sanctuaire de Notre-Dame de La Peinière is an octagonal chapel with neo-Romanesque design built between 1895 and 1900. It features buttresses and small apses on the outside, while stained glass windows by Felix Gaudin decorate the interior space.

A farmer discovered a statue of the Virgin Mary in the 16th century while plowing his field. This discovery led to the building of a sanctuary and eventually the construction of the chapel we see today.

The stained glass windows show religious scenes including Archangel Michael and Mary with her mother Anne. Visitors can see how these images reflect the spiritual focus that draws people to pray here.

The site remains open year-round and welcomes visitors at any time. The busiest pilgrimage period happens in early September around the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.

After its initial discovery, the original statue mysteriously reappeared three times in the same field location. This repeated appearance convinced local people of the site's sacred significance and prompted them to build the first structures.

Location: Saint-Didier

Architects: Henri Mellet

GPS coordinates: 48.10638,-1.35379

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:23