Whether you’re a believer or not, you can’t remain insensitive to the fate of this chapel. History has its share of anecdotes and popular beliefs, of which the Chapelle Notre-Dame de Brouilly is one. It’s hard to imagine that a sacred place would be so devoted to the cult of wine… and yet! In the heart of the Beaujolais we couldn’t be better placed to serve this just and noble cause. We explain in detail.
Beaujolais in 1850: “The Grapes of Wrath
It all started with a series of black events for the region and its vineyards. In 1850, Beaujolais in particular fell victim to powdery mildew, a fungus that wreaked havoc on harvests that year. In those days, there were no national subsidies, and even fewer from the European Union (at the time, Europe was a powder keg). So the farmers implored divine intervention…
As we all know, necessity is the mother of invention. It was therefore decided to erect a chapel on one of the highest points in the region, to protect them for future harvests. It wasn’t until seven years later, on September 8 1857, the day the Romans celebrated the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, that the Notre-Dame de Brouilly (aka Notre-Dame-des-Raisins) chapel was inaugurated.
A chapel like no other…
Since then, every September 8, local winegrowers have made a pilgrimage to this church, which generally coincides with the start of the grape harvest. Don’t expect to see the cathedral of Reims, but this chapel, with its particular history, has a very special cachet. With its carmine-red ceiling, decorative vines chiselled into the nave and an altar inscribed “À Marie contre l’oïdium” (To Mary against powdery mildew) and “À Marie, protectrice du Beaujolais” (To Mary, protector of Beaujolais), this church stands out from the crowd. Its mission remains unchanged: to watch over the nectars of the gods from above …
The chapel is open every weekend between Easter and All Saints’ Day, and every day in July and August until the start of the grape harvest. As you can see, this is an escapade to be enjoyed without moderation…