Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Anges d'Orelle, Mountain chapel in Orelle, France
The Notre-Dame-des-Anges chapel sits on the Arcelin hill at 2052 meters elevation and overlooks the Maurienne valley and surrounding mountains. The building is modest in size with a simple structure that blends into the Alpine landscape.
A chapel dedicated to Saint Margaret was first built at this location in 1671. The current structure was renamed and blessed as Notre-Dame-des-Anges in 1869.
The chapel displays Savoyard baroque features with interior wall paintings that reflect the religious traditions of mountain communities. These artistic details give visitors a sense of how local faith was expressed through architecture and decoration.
Access is by a forest trail that is easy to walk during summer months or via ski slopes in winter when the local ski area is operating. The best visiting period is from June to September when the path is snow-free.
The building underwent a complete interior renovation in 2005 that refreshed all the wall paintings and decorative elements. An orientation table mounted outside helps visitors identify the numerous peaks visible across the broad Alpine landscape.
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