Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Neiges de la Ville-des-Glaciers, chapel located in Savoie, in France
The Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Neiges de la Ville-des-Glaciers is a small stone chapel located in the high zone of Bourg Saint Maurice in the French Alps. The simple building features a bell tower and sits in a mountain setting where surrounding peaks and glaciated ridges are visible from the site.
The chapel was built in 1857 by Charles-Louis Rullier to honor his family's memory and create a place of prayer following a period of severe illness in the region. The bell was later damaged during bombardments but was repaired by craftsmen and continues to function today.
The chapel is dedicated to Notre-Dame des Neiges, a veneration rooted in alpine tradition and local faith. It serves as a gathering place for the community, particularly during the annual celebration on the first Sunday of August when families and hikers meet.
The site is best reached on foot via mountain trails and is often used as a stopping point by hikers. The simple structure offers little weather protection, so it is wise to bring suitable clothing for alpine conditions.
Once each year, on the first Sunday of August, this normally closed chapel opens for Mass where families and hikers gather together. Following the service, a simple picnic takes place on the meadow, a tradition that has preserved the connection between family and place for generations.
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