The chapel of Notre-Dame des Marches (french: Chapelle Notre-Dame des Marches) is a
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
chapel and
pilgrimage site in the commune of
Broc
Broc (; frp, Broc, locally ) is a municipality in the district of Gruyère in the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland.
History
Broc is first mentioned in 1115 as ''Broc'' and ''Broch''. The municipality was formerly known by its German name ' ...
,
canton of Fribourg
The canton of Fribourg, also canton of Freiburg (french: Canton de Fribourg ; german: Kanton Freiburg ; frp, Canton de Fribôrg rm, Chantun Friburg it, Canton Friburgo) is located in western Switzerland. The canton is bilingual, with French ...
,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
. It was listed as a
heritage site of national significance.
History
The name ''Marches'' derives from the word ''marais'' (marsh). The current chapel dates back from 1705. It was founded by friars Jean-Jacques, Nicolas et François Ruffieux, three local churchmen.
The chapel of Notre-Dame des Marches gained popularity in Switzerland thanks to two miraculous healings in the 1880s. In September 1892, a temperance pilgrimage was organised there. The pilgrimage still exists today but is less popular than in the beginning. In 1945, because of the war, the sick people were not able to travel to
Lourdes
Lourdes (, also , ; oc, Lorda ) is a market town situated in the Pyrenees. It is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France. Prior to the mid-19th century, the town was best known for the Château ...
, so the pilgrimage of the sick was organised at Notre-Dame des Marches. In the 1970s, the number of visitors started declining. After large gatherings and special train travels in the previous centuries, the pilgrims of the 21st century usually get to the chapel by tripping individually. However, attendance at religious services is quite high. Every year, the chapel receives two pilgrimages: the one of the sick in May, and the Autumn pilgrimage in September. The pilgrims are welcomed by ''L’Œuvre des malades'', made of 50 volunteers.
Abbot composed a chant in
Fribourgeois dialect named ''Nouthra Dona di Maortsè'', translated into French as ''Notre-Dame des Marches''.
The chapel of Notre-Dame des Marches was listed among the
Cultural Property of National Significance.
See also
*
List of cultural property of national significance in Switzerland: Fribourg
References
Bibliography
*
*
External links
Official website
{{Portal bar, Catholicism, Architecture, Switzerland
Roman Catholic chapels in Switzerland
Roman Catholic shrines in Switzerland
Roman Catholic churches completed in 1705
18th-century establishments in Switzerland
Cultural property of national significance in the canton of Fribourg
18th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Switzerland