SAINT-HILAIRE CHAPEL
LE MASSEGROS , Lozère – Cultural heritage
About
The Saint-Hilaire chapel is nestled against one of the vertiginous limestone cliffs that form the Cirque des Baumes. Located on a terrace offering a beautiful view of the Détroits and the cirque, it is accessible via a short detour from the trail. The Cirque des Baumes, in addition to being a popular spot for climbers, is also a place of devotion for the local inhabitants. The water that springs from a cavity carved into the rock near the chapel was long considered miraculous. Believed to cure eye ailments, it was collected in processions. A wooden statue of Saint Hilaire stands beneath the cavity, near the spring. Recently restored, the chapel is closed by a gate, but the interior is easily visible. It consists of a central altar surmounted by a niche housing a statue of Saint Hilaire, Bishop of Baumes. The walls are decorated with murals.
