Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The alleys of Verdelais are an esplanade designed in the 19th century to welcome pilgrims, in the continuation of a tradition dating back to the 12th century. Located in front of Notre-Dame Basilica, they stretch over about 200 meters, bordered by shops, a convent of the Celestines partially reconverted (mary, school), and a pedestrian space. Their route includes a roadway (D19e6) and a retaining wall overlooking the D120, with two notable monuments: a votive cross from 1630 to the west and a monument to the "Generous Benevolence" (1851) in the east.

The history of the aisles is linked to the rise of Marian pilgrimage from the Middle Ages, leading to a displacement of the population from the original town of Aubiac to Verdelais. In the 19th century, their layout reflected this religious and community vocation, with integrated civilian buildings (hotel, cafe, retirement home). The site, owned by the municipality, was listed as historical monuments in 2009 for its architectural ensemble and its role in the local heritage.

The convent of the Celestines, adjacent to the basilica, illustrates the duality of the site between sacred and secular. Some of its buildings are now home to public services (mayory, school), while the esplanade retains its function as a gathering place, between religious memory and daily life. Car traffic is permitted, with a single sense on the north track and a double sense on the south track, integrating the site into the modern urban fabric.

The protected elements include the entire aisles, their west retaining wall, and the boundaries defined by the RD 19 departmental road south and the basilica east. The 2009 inscription highlights the heritage value of this space, both a place of devotion and the historic heart of Verdelais, marked by seven centuries of pilgrimage and urban evolution.

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