It was constructed in the 17th Century by the Countess Josine de le Marck, the wife of Théodore de Loewenstein, Count of Rochefort. According to the local legend, Josine de la Marck had promised, a chapel to the Holy Virgin if her child – that had been abducted by a monkey – was returned to her safe and sound. The chapel was classified as a listed building on 02 December 1959. It is divided into two different parts: a classical, square-shaped nave made with dressed sandstone and, a long, rectangular choir made out of bricks and bleu stone, which is where the original place of pilgrimage was.
The chapel dates from 1625 and is a replica of the Santa Casa de Loreto, in Italy, which in turn is a replica of Marie of Nazareth’s house. According to a legend born in 1472, the Santa Casa was miraculously carried by angels, from Palestine to the village of Loreto, not far from Ancona (Ancône) in Italy. The brightly colored stained glass windows date from the sixties. Notice that one of them represents the transportation of the house of Nazareth by the angels. The bell and the bell tower cross are both original.
Our Lady of Lorette was proclaimed patron saint of aviators by Pope Benedict XV. It is open to the public from 01 July to 31 August.
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