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Origin and history

The Notre-Dame de l'Ortial chapel, located in Rots in Calvados, is a Gothic building built in the late 13th or early 14th century. It replaces a 12th century Romanesque chapel, some of which remain fragments of carved stones reused in the walls. Attested in the texts as early as 1291, it depended on the abbey Saint-Ouen de Rouen, while the patronage of the mother church belonged to the abbey to the Men of Caen. Unlike the seigneurial chapels, it served as an annex place of worship for the parish, illustrating an ancient territorial religious mesh.

In the 19th century, the chapel was renamed "Saint-Siméon Chapel" by the local population and hosted an annual mass on the feast of the Trinity. From 1800 to 1937, it became a burial place for a family owner of a nearby mansion. After a period of abandonment where it served as a stable, it was listed as a historical monument on October 4, 1932. An emhyteotic lease signed in 1980 allows its restoration, with major works such as the renovation of the bell tower in 2007 and stained glass windows in 2008.

Architecturally, the chapel is distinguished by its arcade bell tower, rare in Normandy, and its rectangular nave without vault, pierced by a Gothic door. Built in local limestone, it has no transept. Its history reflects the religious and social evolutions of the region, moving from a medieval place of worship to a heritage preserved thanks to public and community funding.

The written sources mention his belonging to the abbey Saint-Ouen de Rouen, while Romanesque elements embedded in the walls testify to his older origin. His rescue in the 20th century, after decades of neglect, underscores the importance of local initiatives in preserving Norman heritage.

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