Chapelle Notre-Dame des Clans des Vailhès

The Chapelle Notre-Dame des Clans des Vailhès stands modestly beside Lake Salagou, featuring simple architecture with a single nave and large pediment characteristic of 14th and 15th-century religious buildings in the region.

According to local legend, this chapel was built following a promise made by a wealthy chatelaine and her coachman who invoked the Virgin Mary to escape a violent storm, reflecting medieval popular faith traditions.

The sanctuary remains a place of worship during the annual August 15th procession dedicated to the Assumption, perpetuating local religious traditions and the community's spiritual attachment to this ancestral sacred site.

Accessible from Celles via rural paths, the chapel requires adequate preparation as it generally remains closed to the public outside religious celebrations and lacks any modern infrastructure on the premises.

Legend tells that the bells of the chatelaine's mule, called 'clans,' played a symbolic role in the miracle, giving this chapel its name and imbuing it with regional mystery and folklore.

Location: Celles

GPS coordinates: 43.66425,3.37325

Latest update: August 26, 2025 10:07