Fontaine-chapelle de Grigeas

Domps

Lost in the heart of the forest of Grigeas, in Haute-Vienne, this little chapel and its fountain keep alive the memory of Saint Psalmet, a hermit who came to settle in these woods before founding, further on, the monastery of Eymoutiers. The Limousin has nearly two hundred "bonnes fontaines" (good fountains) of this kind, but that of Grigeas stands out for the richness of its popular uses: people came here to treat snakebites, stomach pains and childhood illnesses, but also, more surprisingly, for matters of the heart — young women hoping to marry well left their garter as an offering, in the hope of winning the favour of a good match. Inside the chapel, simple wooden crosses brought by pilgrims still bear witness to this rural fervour, handed down from generation to generation by the "recommandeuses", the women who traditionally guided the rites of devotion at the fountains of the Limousin. Now part of a 7.6 km walking trail that bears its name, the fountain-chapel of Grigeas offers a silent halt, far from the great sanctuaries, where one can still read the persistence of a popular spirituality blending Christianity with older beliefs bound up with the water of springs.

Getting there : Hamlet of Grigeas, 87120 Domps, Haute-Vienne; reachable on foot by the waymarked paths from the hamlet

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

Ambient sound