Perched atop the hill, the Romanesque chapel dates back to the 12th century. It is a polychrome wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, known as La Belle Briançonne, that is the reason for this pilgrimage.
It came from the small village of Saint-Martin-de-Queyrières, south of Briançon, and was brought to Tarascon in 1350 by a hermit to protect it from the Waldensians. It was also brought as a token of gratitude to Martha of Bethany for saving the Gavots from the Black Death.
The first recorded pilgrimage dates back to 1420 and is symbolic of a very ancient religious and popular tradition. Today, the Brotherhood of Priors of Notre Dame du Château upholds the tradition through its priors, who are elected each year.
In more modern and contemporary times, the Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Château was restored in 1859 following a bequest and declared a relief chapel by decree on 25 May of the same year. It was listed as a Historic Monument in 1926.
The first recorded pilgrimage dates back to 1420 and is symbolic of a very ancient religious and popular tradition. Today, the Brotherhood of Priors of Notre Dame du Château upholds the tradition through its priors, who are elected each year.
In more modern and contemporary times, the Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Château was restored in 1859 following a bequest and declared a relief chapel by decree on 25 May of the same year. It was listed as a Historic Monument in 1926.