Pindreau's walk

Departure and arrival: Recommended parking at the entrance to the sanctuary

1. Walk up towards the basilica. Take advantage of the passage near the building to push open the door and admire the architecture. The organ currently in use dates from 1879. Once you have exited, go around the basilica to the north to reach the tarmac road. Take the road on the left to gradually leave the hamlet and return to the fields. Do not follow the road as it bends to the left and returns to the shrine, but continue straight ahead.
2. At the crow's feet, leave the road leading up to the Tourrond pass on the right and take the track on the left towards the Pindreau monument. Little by little, the panorama of the Avance valley is revealed
3. At the next intersection, take the downhill track and follow it for about 200 m to discover the monument. Take advantage of a contemplative pause to observe the surrounding landscape. Since 1926, the Pindreau monument has replaced the modest oratory built to commemorate the apparition of the Virgin to Benoîte. Panorama on the Avance valley where the eponymous river flows. Opposite, the village of Saint-Etienne-Le-Laus where Sister Benoîte was born. Behind the village, the Fours valley where the stone was fired to make plaster. To the right of the village stretches the Bas Col, an ancient passage leading to the village of Remollon. At the end of the view, the Saint-Maurice mountain (1412m) where the monks of the Boscodon abbey used to live, retraces its steps to the last crossroads. Turn right towards the chapel of the Precious Blood to finish the loop
4. Once you reach the road, cross it to take the time to admire the Chapel of the Precious Blood and its cross, a real work of art. The Chapel of the Precious Blood stands on the site where, in the time of Benoîte Rencurel, a wooden cross known as the "Cross of Avançon" was erected, a place of prayer for pilgrims. This chapel was inaugurated in 1862. The old Avançon cross now hangs in the centre of the building. Finally, take the tarmac road to reach the car park.

A LITTLE HISTORY
Since 1926, the Pindreau monument has replaced the modest oratory built to commemorate the apparition of the Virgin to Benoîte. From there, you can see the Avance valley where the river flows towards Valserres and the Durance. Opposite, the village of Saint Etienne where Sister Benoîte was born. Behind the village, the Fours valley where stone was cooked to make plaster. To the right of the village stretches the col de Remollon and closing the perspective is the mountain Saint-Maurice (1412m) where the monks of the abbey of Boscodon lived.

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