Chapel Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs du Mont Thabor

Name: Chapel Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs du Mont Thabor
Address: Mont Thabor, Névache, 05100
Telephone: 04 92 20 02 20

Névache

Religious heritage in Clarée - History Discovery - © ©Blais Thibault

"Emblematic, and grandiose in its mineral setting": Known for more than 600 years, the Chapel of Mount Thabor, located at 3171 m altitude, has been a pilgrimage site for centuries, as well as a refuge for many hikers.

Description

Built in the 15th century, this chapel belonged to the Escartons territory, which lasted until the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.

In 1487, the Mélézet parish became responsible for maintaining the chapel. The chapel was completely rebuilt in wood in 1694, hardened in 1897 thanks to the generosity of the Mélézet parishioners, and finally restored in 1951.

The people of Mélézet were also behind the Stations of the Cross built in 1860 on the last slopes of Le Thabor. That year, a typhoid epidemic claimed many victims. The local population went up in procession to implore the protection of the Virgin of Tabor and publicly promised to do this penance every year. At the beginning of August, pilgrims from Mélézet, Valmeinier, Modane and Névache gather here.

It became Savoyard, then Italian, and finally, as part of the annexed territories, it was returned to France by the Treaty of Paris of February 10, 1947.

For a time, it belonged to the Ministry of Finance, until the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the basis of archival documents, returned ownership to the commune of Bardonecchia.
Of course, it is still French territory.

This chapel is deteriorating day by day and will be swept away if nothing is done:

The Association des Amis du patrimoine religieux de Névache is actively involved in saving it and is seeking to raise funds: if you would like to support their project, please visit their websites:

https://amipatrimoinenevache.wixsite.com/monsite/

https://www.helloasso.com/associations/amis-du-patrimoine-religieux-de-nevache/collectes/objectif-thabor

Please note: for safety reasons, as the building is in danger of collapsing, access to the interior of the Thabor chapel is now impossible, following a security mission.