The history of this place is rooted in the land of Provence and its legends. It all began on August 10, 1519. Tradition has it that the Virgin Mary appeared here to Jean de la Baume, a humble woodcutter, with a simple request: to build a chapel to spread her graces.<\/p>\n\n
From this initial wish came an extraordinary destiny. The sanctuary has become a landmark in French history: it was here that King Louis XIII prayed for an heir, giving birth, it is believed, to the future Louis XIV<\/strong>, the Sun King, who would himself come on pilgrimage to thank “Notre-Dame de Cotignac”. Although the current building was rebuilt in 1810 after the turmoil of the French Revolution, it stands on the original foundations. It embodies that unalterable memory, that link between heaven and earth that has spanned the centuries without ever breaking.<\/p>\n\n At Notre-Dame de Gr\u00e2ces, the architecture fades into the background. The sanctuary extends over some 15 hectares, immersed in a vibrant Mediterranean landscape of wooded hills, centuries-old holm oaks and restanques of olive trees.<\/p>\n\n From the esplanade, the view opens out onto the Var plain and distant mountain ranges. It’s a soothing landscape. Each stone, each oratory encountered along the path, each step of the monumental staircase evokes the timelessness of the Provencal art of living. The luxury here is space and silence.<\/p>\n\n It’s not a place stuck in the past. The sanctuary is a beating heart. Now run by a diocesan religious community, it welcomes pilgrims and visitors in search of meaning all year round.<\/p>\n\n It is famous for its singular pilgrimages, those of fathers and mothers, which see thousands of walkers converge on Cotignac. Beyond faith, the sanctuary embodies sober, sincere hospitality and the values of welcome and kindness that we hold dear. People come here to lay down a burden, to seek an answer, or simply to sit on a low wall and watch the sun set over the vines.<\/p>\n\n Because, like a farmhouse or a family home we’re looking for you, Notre-Dame de Gr\u00e2ces isn’t just a building. It’s a place of soul<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n It’s a space where you can physically feel the harmony between stone, nature and light. To visit Mont Verdaille is to experience at first hand the truth that we at Beaumas uphold: an exceptional place is first and foremost a refuge. A haven of peace capable of protecting and nurturing its inhabitants.<\/p>\n\n When we speak of “revealing the spirit of the place”, it’s this quality of silence and anchoring that we have in mind.<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n
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A sacred light, an unspoiled landscape<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
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A lively place dedicated to fraternity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
\n\nWhy this place resonates with the Beaumas spirit<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n