7 chapels walk

In Le Joseray, the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Chapel overlooks the Manchet Valley. Mentioned as early as 1633, it was first dedicated to Saint Michael, then known as Notre-Dame-de-la-Compassion in 1790, before taking its present name, Notre-Dame-des-Neiges.

In the mountains, the Virgin under this title was believed to offer protection from avalanches. Here, built on a rocky outcrop acting as a natural protective barrier, Notre-Dame watches over the houses below.

The chapel is recognisable by its small bell tower and its side walls supporting an overhanging roof. Acting as a simple shelter, this overhang protects passers-by from wind and rain. A statue of Saint Germain can be seen in the niche above the entrance.

The chapel is relatively recent, having been built in 1939 on land donated in 1936 by Clotilde Boch, née André. It was blessed by the bishop on 31 July, the feast day of its patron saint.

Who was Saint-Germain?

According to legend, Saint Germain destroyed wild beasts and stopped the avalanches that devastated the Séez area. According to Arnold Van Gennep, “in our region he is regarded as the patron saint of travellers”.

Such a patron saint was particularly appropriate in La Daille: in the past, before entering the dangerous gorges of La Daille, travellers could place themselves under his protection.

Sainte-Lucie Chapel and the neighbouring chalet are the last remaining traces of the hamlet of Les Branges. The site once faced the hamlet of Le Fornet d’Aval, on the opposite side of the Isère, where only a few ruins remain today.

Both hamlets suffered greatly from avalanches. They bear witness to the gradual and practical understanding of these natural hazards developed over centuries by generations of Val d’Isère residents.

Who was Sainte Lucie?

The name Lucy comes from the Latin word lux, meaning “light”, and evokes the radiance of virginity.
Denounced as a Christian by her husband, she was forcibly taken to a place of prostitution. According to legend, she tore out her own eyes in protest and offered them to him. When threatened, divine intervention is said to have surrounded her with a protective halo of light.

First mentioned in 1633, Saint-Roch Chapel stands on the church square. Its niches now house statues of Saint Roch, Joan of Arc and the Curé d’Ars, after the original statues were stolen.

The channel that once carried water to the neighbouring mill passed in front of the chapel. Its millstone can still be seen standing beside the building.

In 1790, the Turin lawyer Boch made a donation that funded 51 Masses a year, one every Friday. Today, the chapel is used as a chapel of rest.

Who was Saint-Roch?

Saint Roch, a hermit and pilgrim, is celebrated on 16 August. Often associated with Saint Sebastian, he is one of the main saints invoked for protection against the plague.

His cult spread through Savoie from the mid-15th century onwards and became particularly widespread during the 16th and 17th centuries, when successive outbreaks of plague devastated the valleys.

The disease, transmitted to humans by fleas carried by rats, severely affected Alpine communities. The regular movement of travelling merchants, peddlers and muleteers contributed to its spread into mountain villages.

Mentioned during the parish visit of 1633, the chapel was already the subject of a recommendation from the bishop: local residents were instructed to look after the building and keep its door closed to prevent animals from wandering inside!

Thanks to income from a meadow located behind the chapel, Anne-Marie Guiller established a Mass to be celebrated on the feast day of the patron saint.

A painting of the Virgin nursing the Christ Child once hung in the chapel. After restoration, it was moved to the right-hand wall of the church choir. Saint Bartholomew can be seen in the background on the right, holding his curved knife.

Who was Saint-Barthélemy?

Celebrated on 24 August, Saint Bartholomew is notably the patron saint of butchers, tanners, bookbinders and livestock farmers.

He is traditionally depicted carrying his own skin, a reference to his martyrdom by flaying, sometimes accompanied by the knife used in his execution. His ancient cult remains widespread in Savoie.

In Le Fornet, the chapels have moved around over the centuries… because of avalanches! In total, four successive chapels have stood here, all dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene.

The first building was constructed between 1600 and 1630, close to the larch forest, with the aim of protecting the village from avalanches. The present chapel was built in 1890, at the expense of Joachim Bonnevie.

Above the entrance, a niche contains a small statue of the patron saint. This sculpture is relatively recent: the original was stolen in the 1980s, like many other religious objects.

Until the 1990s, on the feast day of Saint Mary Magdalene, the priest would bless the houses. The day ended with Mass in the chapel attended by the residents of Le Fornet.

Who was Mary Magdalene?

According to the New Testament, Mary Magdalene was freed from seven demons by Jesus before becoming one of his disciples.

She was the first witness to the Resurrection of Christ, giving her a particularly important role in the biblical narrative. After appearing to her, Christ asked her to announce his resurrection to the other disciples. Mary Magdalene is celebrated on 22 July.

Why Mary Magdalene in Le Fornet?

In Le Fornet, the river flows at the bottom of the gorge and, in the past, it would have been difficult to reach the Isère quickly in the event of a fire. Symbolically, the inhabitants therefore relied on Mary Magdalene’s tears to extinguish the flames.