https://aleteia.org/slideshow/slideshow-the-ten-most-beautiful-views-mary-overlooks-in-france/9/ Our Lady of the Mountain, Ornans, Doubs This cast-iron Virgin Mary overlooking the Loue valley was erected in the 19th century. At the end of August 1944, the parish priest succeeded in freeing all the men from Ornans taken hostage by the Germans, before they could be executed. When they were freed, they came to kneel before this statue and sing a Magnificat, which the parish organist thenceforth played at the end of every mass for over thirty years.
Black Madonna, Lusigny-sur-Ouche, Côte-d'Or This black cast-iron statue of Mary surmounts a rocky outcropping in the middle of the woods. It was paid for by a local woman in thanksgiving for a cure. It was erected in 1864. In 1870, the Prussians mistook the statue for a lone sniper and shot it. The marks of the bullets are still visible. Today, Our Lady seems to be peacefully blessing the village and its surroundings. (Source: André Beuchot). - © Florian Simonnet
Rock of Our Lady, Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques The statue of the Virgin was installed on this rocky outcropping above the Atlantic Ocean in 1865 by whalers who had survived a storm. Since 1887, a metal footbridge has provided access to the Rocher de la Vierge, built under Napoleon III. -©
Our Lady of Biakorri, Saint-Michel, Pyrénées-Atlantiques In Basque country, a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Biakorri or of Orisson takes place every year after August 15. This image of Our Lady of shepherds protects flocks from lightning and guides pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. -
Our Lady of Troumouse, Hautes-Pyrénées The cirque of Troumouse in the Mounia massif (Pyrenees) is a place of miracles and devotion to Mary. A statue of Our Lady of Lourdes stands next to an orientation table... -
Our Lady of La Salette in Grépon, Chamonix, Haute-Savoie On June 27, 1927, Fr. Vuarnet and a team of mountain guides hoisted a bronze statue of Our Lady of La Salette to the summit of the Aiguille du Grépon in the Mont-Blanc massif at 10,767 ft, after a seven-hour ascent. This crowned Madonna, who appeared to shepherd children in the mountains of Isère in southeastern France, is very dear to mountaineers. Here she watches over them and the Chamonix valley. -
Our Lady of Mont-Dolent, Haute-Savoie Here's another mountaintop Virgin, in the Mont-Blanc massif, at an altitude of 12,533 ft. It was hoisted into this spectacular natural setting by young people from Swiss Valais in 1954, during the Marian Year decreed by Pope Pius XII. -
Our Lady of the Snows, Zonza, Corsica Since 1953, every August 5 hundreds of pilgrims have come to pray before the white statue of Our Lady of Alta Rocca, at the foot of the Aiguilles de Bavella, over 3,937 ft above sea level. The Blessed Virgin appeared here in the middle of winter. Since then, she has remained in the hearts of Corsicans as Our Lady of the Snows. -
Our Lady of France, Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire Since 1860, this image has dominated a volcanic peak, the Rocher Corneille. It was erected at the initiative of the Bishop of Le Puy. Made from cast-iron cannons taken from the Russians at Sebastopol and donated by Napoleon III, it weighs 835 tonnes and is over 52 feet tall. -
I love our Lady's places in France. Of the sites you included here, I had the pleasure to visit Le Puy in 2011, on a World Youth Day-pilgrimage to Madrid. We also went to Lourdes that year.
I have to get to Lourdes before I die, please God. Maybe this year, must make it a resolution. La Salette as well..maybe.
Oh yes, both Lourdes and La Salette are so immensely beautiful, spiritually and physically. You would very much love it. If you take a ferry, you could perhaps even drive to France. I have been in Lourdes three times. The first pilgrimage was in 2011, with a group. The second time I went there with my wife and kids, in 2019, I think. The third time was with my mom and my big kids, this past August. Each time was so amazing. In 2011, I took the baths and did the beautiful stations of the cross and the night candlelight procession - basically a toast to our Lady, singing "Ave Maria". In 2019, the baths were closed, it was winter. This year, they have closed the baths for good, but now they do a washing and drinking ritual just like Our Lady asked St. Bernadette to do - so it is very original. On the two family pilgrimages, each time we stayed on a convent property with Traditional Catholic Sisters. This in itself is wonderful. They have two very cool watchdogs, which I am sure you would like. Each time in Lourdes, I get lots of bottles of healing water for my family and friends. La Salette, stunningly beautiful. You would love it. Up in the mountains, hardly any visitors. Very serene. The views are amazing. Total peace. Went there this year in August, before going to Lourdes. My mom also came along on this trip, which is a small miracle.
I am jealous. I suppose we could spend a 100 years in France alone and not to see all the Holy Places that there are to see, Liseaux, Ars, the Rue Du Bac, the home of Joan of Arc, Notre Dame, Mont Sainte Michel, the great Monasteries...more.
I don't mean to be boasting, I just love these places so much. Since we live overseas and have small children and our parents are in China and Europe, we have to travel every few years to 'show off our kids', so to speak. The good thing is, my in-laws live close to Hong Kong, which is basically on the way to Europe, so that saves a bit of money. Still, these flights are very expensive. So, to make it worthwhile, I almost always plan a small 'pilgrimage', alongside the family visits. Usually, when in Germany, I take one of my parents cars and drive to France, or Czestochowa (Poland), or down to Bavaria (Altoetting), etc. Once, on the way back from Europe, instead of stopping over in China (as usual), we stopped over in Japan, so we took the chance to see Akita. I have also been to Fatima once, when I was in Europe. Each time, it is big energy and money investment, but it is so worthwhile. Before my conversion in 2010, I was never much interested in tourism. Since you mentioned Lisieux and Rue de Bac, Ars, and some of the great monasteries such as Le Barroux and La Grande Chartreuse, been there (Lisieux and Rue de Bac several times) and can thoroughly recommend all of them. Each time in France, to make the trip worthwhile, I tend to make a big loop with the car, to cover as much as possible. But now, I have seen many places of Our Lady. I am a great fan of Her, obviously. There are many more sites of the Blessed Virgin on my bucket list, if money and time allows, somewhere down the line in the coming years, including Knock, Champion (Wisconsin), Ephesus, and many more. Once, I came close to going to Ephesus, as the cheapest flight to Europe was via Turkey, but in the end, for some reason, we ended up cancelling that particular trip. It is not that I travel all that much, the last time was August 2023 and before that it was 2019. My wife thinks the main reason I plan travel is not to see our families but to go on pilgrimage . But it is basically this - we have to travel every few years, our parents are getting old and have health issues and would love to see our kids - so I plan the travel and try to include lots of pilgrimage sites. The memories of these visits will always remain in my heart. God bless you and your wonderful forum and all members and their loved ones!
You will love Ephesus. The only thing I would say is that some Marian Sites , like Knock in Ireland , have lost their prayer power due to the lack of Faith and Apostacy of much of the Clergy and Faithful there.
