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Origin and history

Notre-Dame-du-Grau Church, originally called Notre-Dame-d'Aiguesvives, is a Catholic building located two kilometres south of Agde, on the banks of the Hérault River. It is part of the shrine of the Agenouillade, a Marian pilgrimage place including also the chapel Notre-Dame-de-la-Genouillade and a dedicated cave. This religious site, marked by a long tradition of devotion, has attracted the faithful for centuries.

The history of the monument dates back to 456 C.E., when St. Sever, a Syrian monk, landed on these lands and erected a stubble-roofed oratory. This primitive building was enlarged in 1584 by the connétable Henri I of Montmorency, who joined a convent of capuchins. The current construction is thus based on the foundations of a 5th century chapel, showing spiritual and architectural continuity.

The sanctuary of the Agenouillade, of which Notre-Dame-du-Grau is part, is a religious set emblematic of local heritage. It illustrates the importance of Marian pilgrimages in the region, while reflecting the architectural and spiritual changes that took place between the 5th and 16th centuries. The proximity to Herault and the city of Agde makes it a place both isolated and central in Occitan religious life.

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