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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.

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