The small troglodyte chapel of Notre
Dame de Lorette in the Vallée de Courtineau is an intriguing little place
carved into the rocks along this charming, relatively unknown, little
valley. I say unknown only as it doesn't seem to warrant much of a mention
in any tourist guides of the local area yet it is a annual place
of pilgrimage on the 'route to Santiago de Compostela' and has (allegedly)
links to Joan of Arc and the crusades.
You enter the chapel under the cross of
the crusaders and a crescent which only adds to the intrigue, although the
centre stone of the lintel has been replaced at sometime.
This small 15th century chapel is dedicated to Our
Lady of Loreto (the black Madonna)
Inside there is a small simple altar and
a curious mix of religious artefacts and wall carvings including one of the
'Holy Trinity' at the foot of well executed version of the 'Jerusalem
Cross' or 'Cross of the Crusaders' which runs the whole length of the
ceiling of the chapel.
Its inclusion in the route 'route
Santiago de Compostela' is marked by the familiar shell carving.
Where's Joan?
There is a small statue of Joan among
the many items vying for your attention and according to legend she
took shelter from the rain here on her way to Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois to
collect her sword, in March, 1429
This is a really interesting little
place set in a very picturesque little valley just off the D910 just north
of Saint-Maure-de-Touraine...
...blink and you'll miss
it.
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"Author: Jim
Craig"
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