Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Mont-Roland

Jouhe

Visible from the whole plain of Dole, the hill of Mont-Roland is the oldest Marian centre in the Jura. Tradition traces the first oratory back to Saint Martin of Tours, said to have replaced an idol with a Christian altar in the 4th century; it then attributes a chapel to Roland, Charlemagne's valiant nephew, who is said to have paused here on pilgrimage to Rome and left his name to the mountain. Documented history begins in 1089, when a papal bull entrusted the church to the Benedictines of the priory of Jouhe: a Virgin in Majesty was already venerated there, reputed to be the earliest known Marian image in the Jura. In 1636, during the terrible siege of Dole, the Swedes burned the priory; the rescued statue was held at Auxonne until 1649, and it took the intervention of Louis XIV to bring it back. Its return set off a series of healings recognised by the Church, such as that of Nicolas Largeot, "hunchbacked in chest and back" after a fall, healed on Saint Michael's Day. Sold as national property at the Revolution, the sanctuary was raised up again by the Jesuits from 1843: a new statue consecrated on 2 August 1859, crowned in 1872, a monumental Way of the Cross in 1896. Entrusted to the diocese of Saint-Claude since 1961, Mont-Roland still welcomes pilgrims, walkers and communities in celebration on its wooded summit.

Getting there : 6 km north-west of Dole: from Jouhe or Sampans, road signposted "Mont-Roland" to the sanctuary car park, at the top of the hill (341 m). Waymarked paths from Jouhe.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound