Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Notre Dame de Maylis Abbey, located in the Landes in Chalosse, has its origins between the 12th and 13th centuries. Initially a simple Marian shrine on the road to Santiago de Compostela, it became a major pilgrimage place between Saint-Sever and Orthez. His name, often associated with a disputed gasconic etymology ("Mother of the Lys"), would rather come from the Latin Magilicus, according to the research of Benedict Boyrie-Féné. The Romanesque chapel, partially preserved, was modified in the 13th century after the collapse of its vault, then abandoned to the Revolution before being restored in 1980.

The current neo-Gothic building was rebuilt between 1871 and 1877 by architect Alexandre Ozanne to accommodate diocesan priests. In 1946, Benedictine monks settled there, transforming the priory into an abbey in 1948. Today, the site combines religious heritage (medieval statues, stained glass windows, 15th century Pietà) and monastic life, with economic activity centered on herbal tea and wax. The early chapel, classified in 1976, houses a 14th century polychrome wood Madonna, a witness to its medieval past.

Maylis remains a high place of Marian spirituality, integrated into the network of the three French Olivier abbeys. Its Romanesque bell tower, its porch and its western facade, original, contrast with the additions of the 19th century. The site, private property, perpetuates a tradition of welcoming pilgrims, while preserving ancient and contemporary works of art, such as the sculptures of Henri Charlier or monk Benedict Constantin.

External links