Sanctuary of Notre-Dame d'Ay

Place of pilgrimage to Saint Jean-François Régis and Saint Thérèse Couderc, the village of Lalouvesc is famous for its neo-Byzantine style basilica dedicated to Saint Régis, built in the 19th century by the architect of Notre-Dame de Fourvière de Lyon, Pierre Bossan. Inside, the paintings in the choir retrace the history of the pilgrimage, the stained glass windows illustrate the life of Saint Jean-François Régis, and a shrine contains the relics of the saint.

A rare testimony to the Gothic architecture in Ardèche, the church of St Julien is one of the best preserved in this region. Registered on the list of historical monuments, it reminds us of the ancient character of the Tournonian heritage. Probably built on the site of a Roman temple and certainly in the place of a Romanesque church (basic remains of the bell tower), it is dedicated to St Julien, a Roman centurion beheaded in Brioude (Auvergne) during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (245-313). Erected as a collegiate church between 1316 and 1348, the church of St Julien constitutes a rather surprising architectural ensemble: the offset bell tower, the chapels replaced by houses, the Italian-style ceiling give it an atypical character.

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.