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Origin and history

The chapel Notre-Dame de Foncourrieu, located in Marcillac-Vallon in Aveyron, has its origin in a 14th century legend. In 1338, a noble lady, attacked by a snake in a place invaded by thorns, allegedly invoked the Virgin Mary, who appeared to save her. In thanks, the lady had a chapel dedicated to Mary erected, explaining the snake-shaped anse of the local tasso. The first written mention of the sanctuary dates from 1351, when it depended on the chapter of Conques. In 1380, a four-bed leprosy was opened in his garden, financed by William of Laparra, lord of Gradels, with the approval of Bishop Gilbert of Cantobre and Jean d'Armagnac.

In 1388, the chapel was enlarged by the addition of a nave, consecrated the following year by John, bishop in partibus, representing Henri de Sévery. The arches of the vault bear the inscription "Consecrata 1388". The site became a place of devotion for young mothers, who placed wool offerings there. In the 17th century, the priory was built and connected to the chapel by a stand, under the dependence of the Abbey of Conques. In 1640, the parish adopted the vow of Louis XIII, introducing an annual procession on August 15. The neighboring parishes, like Saint-Austermoine, returned there on pilgrimage in 1642.

The chapel experienced major beautifications in the seventeenth century: in 1680, the vault of the choir was painted with four cartridges dedicated to the Virgin, and in 1703, a monk of Conques decorated the nave of 200 squares representing Mary, Christ and the saints. In 1691 three silver lamps were melted by royal order. During the Revolution, the chapel was looted in 1793: its statue of the Virgin, sawn in two, was partially saved by a resident. Repurchased in 1804, it was restored in 1887 by François Mahoux, who restored the missing part. In 1901 the statue was solemnly crowned by the bishop of Rodez, in the presence of three other prelates.

The sanctuary houses a statue of the Virgin in painted wood (14th century), representing Mary at the age of 15 in a golden posture, dressed in a red dress and a blue coat. Venerated by winemakers and miners, it was also invoked to protect children. The retables, dating from the 17th and 19th centuries, illustrate scenes such as the Annunciation or the Assumption. The vault of the nave, divided into 200 squares, celebrates Mary and the saints, while the walls used to have ex-votos, a tradition taken over from 1904 to 1969. The chapel, which was listed as a historical monument in 1988, remains a place of pilgrimage, especially for the sick, the children, and the local parishes.

The annual pilgrimages continue to keep pace with the life of the sanctuary: the Sunday preceding the Ascension for the parishes of Vallon, the Monday of Pentecost for the children, and the last Sunday of June for the sick. In 1951, the statue participated in the Ostension of the Madones of Rouergue, presided over by the future Pope John XXIII. The paintings of the vault of the choir were restored in 1983, preserving this artistic and spiritual heritage linked to the history of Conques and Rodez.

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