Camino Photo of the Day: the Treasures of Monistrol

Locked within the parish church of Saint-Pierre de Monistrol are two statues that originated in completely different churches. I believe they were moved here in 1905, when the French government finally declared a separation of church and state and returned (most of) the goods and properties seized from churches in the Revolution. There was some sort of kerfluffle about inventorying the churches, which led to riots. Whatever the reason, the statues remain here, at least for most of the year, and apparently many of the locals are still angry about it. So much so that the statues are protected behind a metal barrier.

The Madonna on the left is Notre-Dame d’Estours, a subject of Marian pilgrimages throughout the later Medieval and early Modern periods. Her proper chapel is up in the hills overlooking town, but she lives here throughout most of the year.

The recumbent figure on the left is Saint Mary Magdalene. Again, the sanctuary where she originated is up in the hills, and when I took this photo, I was preparing to walk up to it. The cultus of the Magdalene is endemic throughout southern and central France.

Date: 19 August 2023
Place: Monistrol-d’Allier, Haute-Loire Département, Region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Maps!