Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge Sanctuary
Hidden at the end of a narrow gorge road, this 17th-century pilgrimage chapel is one of the most ornate Baroque churches in the Savoie — a genuine surprise package of gilded altars and painted vaulting tucked between towering granite cliffs. Pilgrims and hikers have passed through its doors for over 350 years, and the atmosphere remains quietly electric.
Architecture and history
Built between 1699 and 1710 on the site of a much older shrine, the chapel was financed by donations from valley communities who attributed miraculous healings to a venerated statue of the Virgin that still stands above the main altar.
Step inside and the contrast with the rugged exterior is startling: three gilded altarpieces, trompe-l'œil painted columns and a carved wooden pulpit compete for your attention in a space barely 20 metres long.
The chapel is a registered Historic Monument (Monument Historique) and underwent a major restoration in 2018 that returned its frescoes to something close to their original vivid ochres and blues.
The pilgrimage tradition
The Assumption procession on 15 August draws hundreds of walkers from across the valley who carry a statue of the Virgin up to the Col du Bonhomme — a tradition unbroken since the 18th century.
Even outside feast days the site feels alive: hikers setting off on the Tour du Mont Blanc touch the chapel door for luck, a habit that has worn the iron latch smooth over generations.
A small fountain beside the entrance dispenses cold mountain spring water — fill your bottle here before the climb into the reserve.
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