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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Chapelle des Monts d'Avioth, known as the Recevresse, is a medieval building probably dating back to the early 15th century. Its construction is attributed to the generosity of Rodemack's family, notably Gilles IV de Rodemack, governor of Montmedy, who made an important donation to the church of Avioth in 1412. Originally, the building was said to have served as a seat for the court of the Pre-Border, a local judicial function forgotten in the second half of the seventeenth century.

From the seventeenth century on, the Recevress housed a statue of the Virgin, called the Recevress, to which pilgrims flocked to place offerings in kind or in cash. It was only in 1882 that the monument itself took the name of its statue. The building was restored between 1844 and 1846 by architect Boeswilwald, as evidenced by the historical works of the time.

Classified as a Historical Monument in 1862, the chapel embodies a rare religious and judicial heritage in Lorraine. Its history also reflects local traditions of Marian devotion, while at the same time witnessing the evolution of the uses of the same place throughout the centuries. Today, it remains a symbol of the rich medieval and cultural past of the Meuse, integrated into the historical landscape of the village of Avioth.

The monument is also linked to local legends, such as that of Warabouc, an evil creature burned in Avioth according to folk tales. This mythological dimension adds a symbolic layer to its history, mixing Christian faith and ancestral popular beliefs.

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