13. NOTRE-DAME-DE-LOURDES CHAPEL

The project was born in March 1876 from the will of Abbé Eugène Dubois and his vicar, who was none other than his nephew and successor, Constant Dubois. The two priests vowed to build a monument in honour of the Immaculate Virgin of Roches Massabielle. The parishioners of Cahagnes were put to use, for the organization of a quest which made it possible to collect the sum of 4000 francs. Immediately the plan and the estimate were drawn up. On June 1, the abbot laid the first stone. On August 22, a small bell tower was surmounted. After four months of work, the chapel was completed and was dedicated to Notre-Dame-de-loudres. Despite the speed of the design, the decoration was careful.

The article in La Semaine Religieuse recounting his blessing on October 15, 1876, gave a description of it: "The style of the building is from the 13th century; a graceful stone altar, a gift of a heart sincerely devoted to Mary; pretty greyness, due to the generosity of several people; a rich frieze of acanthus flower that adorns the perimeter of the interior; a bas-relief representing the appearance of the Blessed Virgin at Bernadette, carved on the tympanum; the elegant bell tower that surmounts the chapel; the various parts of the building, in a word, present a graceful whole; it is a rather remarkable monument, especially for the region".

The blessing given by the vicar general brings together between three and four thousand people from all over the region. This memorable date was celebrated every year until the Second World War, on its anniversary, Assumption Day. The fiftieth anniversary, August 15, 1926, was the occasion of a great feast attended by the bishop of Bayeux. It should also be noted that on April 10, 1939, a large torchlight procession was organized for the installation of Abbé Homo.

The bombing of 1944 destroyed the chapel. Still remains a tombstone, testifying that the second of the abbots Dubois is buried there.

                                The chapel was destroyed.