Our Lady of Chèvremont
Rue de Chèvremont 96
4051 Vaux-sous-Chèvremont (Chaudfontaine)
Chapel | XVII | Renaissance | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Permanently open.
Guided tour
Description
On the side of the hill just below the large Chevremeont basilica is this small chapel which, dating from 1688, is much older than the basilica. It was built by English Jesuits who had founded a college of philosophy and theology at Liege.
Slowly this chapel has become the objective of a walk on the hillside and a site of devotion to the Virgin. It was classified in 1985 and, curiously, it is a pilgrimage site for sportsmen. Actually it is dedicated to Our Lady, patron of sports, and inside there are various trophies such as cups, balls and cycling and football jerseys, notably one from Gino Barteli, a tour de France winner.
Photos
Remarkable elements
Statue of the Virgin
The painted wooden statue of the Virgin (290 cm high) still occupies its original place in the niche of the altarpiece, whose base carved with ovum appears to have been designed with the statue when the altar was built in 1688. The latter was enlarged in the 18th century.
Statuette of the Virgin Mary called miraculous
The so-called miraculous statue (22.30 cm high) made of whitish terracotta covered with a polychromy recharged many times, no longer occupies the base provided for it in the upper part of the altar. In order to be closer to the faithful, it was placed in the center of the choir on a throne after its solemn coronation in 1923.
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque reminds us that on "May 17, an aircraft torpedo did not prevail against it". Although the damage was not very significant, the roof and stained glass windows had to be restored.
Special architecture - construction 1688
The first part of the building built in 1688 (the current choir) is not oriented according to the traditions of the Middle Ages. Its pentagonal plan is not common in the area. In 1697, the chapel was enlarged. The walls got a more rustic (stone) construction and the work was done faster, probably the work of the population.
Patron saint of Walloon sportsmen and women
A commemorative plaque reminds us that Notre-Dame de Chèvremont is declared "Patroness of Walloon sportsmen" following a brief pontifical of Pius XII on 27 March 1953.
Stained glass windows
The stained glass windows of the choir, works by Joseph Osterrath of Tilff date from 1928. After the damage suffered during the war 40, they were restored in 1949. They represent the great moments and names in the history of this chapel.
Sainte Marie / Dames de choeur - campagne 2021
Connaissez-vous la patronne des sportifs wallons ? Il s’agit de Notre-Dame de Chèvremont et ce depuis 1953.
