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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-des-Bois chapel of Villers-sous-Chalamont, located in the Doubs, is a religious building built at least in the 15th century, although remains suggest an older origin. It was mentioned in 1202 as a dependency of the Abbey of Goailles, and its nave could date from the 13th or 14th century. Funeral urns and graves from the lower Middle Ages, discovered during works in the nineteenth century, attest to an ancient occupation of the site. The chapel, surrounded by a cemetery built in 1850, was partially restored by the bisontin architect Pompey, who intervened in particular on the western facade and the bell tower.

In 1914, interior works altered the coatings and pavement, while the large flamboyant bay of the apse, dating from the 15th century, was preserved. The nave and choir, each composed of two vaulted bays in a cradle, are illuminated by rare openings. Some elements of the furniture, such as a statue of Virgin of Majesty and the altar, were classified in 1978. The chapel, a communal property, was inscribed entirely in the historical monuments in 2010, including its paved reverse.

Located in the parish of Levier and the diocese of Besançon, the chapel illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of the region. Its bell tower, typical of rural buildings, and successive restorations reflect the cultural and memorial needs of local communities, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era. Archaeological discoveries, such as cinematic ballot boxes, underline its role in the funerary and spiritual continuity of the territory.

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