Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Anges de Clichy-sous-Bois

Clichy-sous-Bois

The sanctuary of Notre-Dame-des-Anges is reputed to be one of the oldest pilgrimages in France still alive, and it stands in the heart of the suburbs, on the site of the former forest of Bondy, long a byword for cut-throats. The founding legend tells that around 1212, three merchants from Anjou were robbed there by brigands, tied to trees and left to certain death from hunger and thirst; freed after praying to the Virgin — an angel untied them, according to the popular version — one of them had a chapel built in thanksgiving, attested before 1260. The place was held by the Order of the Temple, then by the Hospitallers, before passing in 1660 to the canons of the abbey of Notre-Dame de Livry. The present church was built between 1650 and 1660 on the initiative of Christophe de Coulanges, abbot of Livry and uncle of Madame de Sévigné. The Revolution destroyed the chapel in 1791 and had the three historic oaks felled; three crosses were raised in their place in 1800 to perpetuate their memory, the chapel being rebuilt around 1808 and then enlarged with a dome in 1865. The pilgrimage has never ceased: it is today led by the Bishop of Saint-Denis, with walks converging in September from Bondy, Coubron, Gagny, Les Pavillons-sous-Bois, Le Raincy, Montfermeil and Sevran. The eighth centenary gathered nearly three thousand people, in a district one rarely associates with this kind of memory.

Wikipédia — Pèlerinage de Notre-Dame-des-Anges ↗

Getting there : 10 allée Jean-Jaurès, Clichy-sous-Bois, on the edge of the former forest of Bondy. Reached by tram T4 (Notre-Dame-des-Anges stop) or by car from the N370. Sanctuary still active, diocesan pilgrimage in September.

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

Ambient sound