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Basilica Notre-Dame de Ceignac à Calmont dans l'Aveyron

Aveyron

Basilica Notre-Dame de Ceignac

    367 Avenue de la Basilique
    12450 Calmont
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac
Basilique Notre-Dame de Ceignac

Timeline

Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
XIIe siècle
Romanesque origins
1420
Papal indulgence
milieu XVe siècle
Gothic horse
1667
Extension of the nave
1876
Coronation of the Virgin
1926-1932
Modern enlargement
1936
Basilica elevation
2025
Historical Monument
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Ceignac, in its entirety, appearing in the cadastre section G, parcel 1797 as delimited in red on the plan annexed to the decree: inscription by order of 17 March 2025

Key figures

Pie XI - Pope (1922-1939) Raised the church to the rank of basilica.
André Boyer - Architect (XX century) Designed the modern extension of the basilica.
Père Costes - Curé de Ceignac Initiator of expansion works (1926).
Cardinal Marty - Archbishop Emeritus of Paris Released pilgrimages in the 1990s.
Jean d'Arpajon - Lord of Calmont (XVI century) Protective family and necropolis in the basilica.
Père Christophe Battut - Rector of the Basilica (XXI century) Released regular pilgrimages in 2016.

Origin and history

Notre-Dame de Ceignac Basilica, located in Calmont, Aveyron, is a Marian pilgrimage site dating back to the 12th century. Originally, a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame-des-Monts, too small, was enlarged by merging with a nearby church dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. Two Romanesque spans remain from this primitive period. In the middle of the 15th century, a Gothic bedside was built, and the bell tower, inspired by that of the Abbey of Conques, was rebuilt in a Romanesque style. The family of Arpajon, local lords, protected the sanctuary and made it their necropolis.

In 1667 the nave was extended by an entrance hall and side chapels were added. A major extension took place between 1926 and 1932 under the impulse of parish priest Costes, including the Gothic choir in a double walk. The architect André Boyer designed this extension while preserving the Gothic spirit, while integrating modern elements such as stained glass windows that narrate contemporary events. Pope Pius XI raised the church to the rank of minor basilica in 1936, crowning its spiritual and historical importance.

The pilgrimage of Ceignac originated in an oral tradition of the 13th century: a palatin prince would have regained his sight there, attracting the faithful to a statue of the Virgin in linden wood. In the 15th century, Pope Martin V granted plenific indulgences to pilgrims, reinforced later by Alexander VII. Marian devotion intensified after epidemics of plague, as in 1652, when Rodez, spared, vowed annual pilgrimages. The crowds flocked, with records of 30,000 pilgrims in 1873 and 40,000 in 1876 for the coronation of the Virgin.

In the 20th century, the sanctuary was supported by the missionaries of Vabres and then revived in the 1990s by Cardinal Marty. In 2016, Father Christophe Battut restored weekly pilgrimages, and in 2019, the May 8 employers' feast was restored. In the same year, the diocese of Rodez was restored to the former presbytery to set up a community at the Notre-Dame de Vie Institute, where visitors were welcomed.

The basilica, listed as a historical monument in 2025, houses treasures such as a statue of the 13th century Virgin, the tomb of John d'Arpajon (XVI century), and baroque altarpieces. Its octagonal bell tower, inspired by Conques, and its modern stained glass windows depicting pilgrimage scenes testify to its architectural evolution. The work of the twentieth century, led by André Boyer, allowed to enlarge the building while preserving its medieval heart, symbolizing the continuity of its spiritual vocation.

The sanctuary was also marked by figures such as Cardinal Arnaud de Pélagrue (XIVth century) and Bishop Bourret (XIXth century), who played a key role in its influence. Despite the vicissitudes of the Revolution, where the miraculous statue was hidden, the pilgrimage never ceased. Today, the basilica remains an active place of devotion, mixing historical heritage and Marian fervor.

External links