Our Blog - Chapelle de Bodonou

The owner of our gîte near Lanildut mentioned to us when we checked in that the Gîtes de France organization sometimes organizes walks for their owners and guests. While pre-COVID, there were quite a few more than there are now, there was one scheduled for this area the week that we were here. While the weather was not cooperating, we decided to go anyway.

We started at the Chapelle de Bodonou, which dates from the 16th century. At that time, it was actually twice as long as it is today. If you see where the double-spired bell tower is, that was exactly in the middle of the church. Only 1/2 the chapel remains today, along with the bell tower. The chapel was restored in 1823, and it the other half of the church was removed.

Inside is pretty sparse, but there are a large statue of the Virgin and Child and 5 smaller statues dating from the 16th and 17th centuries in polychrome wood.

It is dedicated to Our Lady of Bodonou, and there is a legend around her. Long ago, a plague was ravaging the country and all trade was suspended, no markets were held, and the roads were deserted. Only a few people were out, mainly millers, who would gather the grain, mill it, and return it to the homes. One day, a miller met a lovely lady with very fine shoes, who asked for a place in his cart instead of walking in the muddy roads. As she got on the cart, it seemed like the load was lightened for the horses. As they travel, he tells her about the plague and that his wife and children died from the disease. Suddenly, she asks him to stop so that she can get off, at a spot that was the dirtiest and muddiest. He pleads with her, as he says she will be knee-deep in mud. She tells him not to worry and he stops. As she gets off, she tell him that to reward him for his generosity, the plague will never go beyond this place. And that he can trust her, she is Our Lady of Bodonou! She jumps lightly to the ground, which bounces her into the sky where she disappears. At the exact spot where her feet hit the ground, a fountain sprang up, which has never dried up, and the plague never crossed that spot.

We did a very short walk up to the top of a hill and then hurried back down as it was raining quite hard. Then the leaders of the little walk talked about the area, how there used to be tin mines here, and of the legend of Our Lady of Bodonou. They had homemade desserts and some drinks, and they gave out gift baskets to the handful (4 or 5) sets of guests from the gîtes. It was a really nice gift basket, full of interesting local products!!