Le Calvaire

From the ecclesiastical point of view, the village is a foundation (before the 10th century) of the church of Viviers on the former Gallo-Roman estate. Saint-Vincent was the seat of a barony with jurisdiction over the surrounding parishes. In 1020 (?) the canons of Viviers exchanged with the monks of Cluny, the church of Saint-Vincent-de-Barrès for that of Meysse.

Notre-Dame d'Aiguebelle Abbey is a Cistercian abbey founded in 1137. The abbey reached its peak in the 12th and 13th centuries, then declined with the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453). The abbey was heavily restored during the 19th century but has retained, despite some demolitions, most of the buildings of the medieval convent. The abbey is now known to be the site of production of a brandy, made according to an ancient craft recipe developed by Cistercian monks.

Everything leads us to believe that this chapel, whose origin is mysterious, was built in recognition of some extraordinary grace obtained through the intercession of Notre-Dame-du-Puy... The tradition tells that two travellers in danger on the Rhone had recourse to Notre-Dame-du-Puy... And vowed to have a chapel built on the spot where their boat would land... The vow was fulfilled, and the shipwrecked of the Virgin placed a black statue similar to that of Le Puy (hence the name Notre-Dame de la Mûre or Notre-Dame Noire).

The chapel was mentioned for the first time in the 10th century, then was destroyed in the 16th century during the Wars of Religion and remained in ruins for a long time afterwards. It was rebuilt after 1701, then ruined again during the Revolution... and finally sold as a national asset in 1793. Only the walls remained. Then it was sold in 1810 and covered again, without closing however... In 1854, repairs were made and it was returned to the cult. It was then renovated and enlarged until 1865, with the vault, the apse and the sacristy.