- Notre Dame des Cyclistes
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Notre-Dame des Cyclistes
The chapel Notre-Dame des Cyclistes is situated in the municipality of Labastide-d'Armagnac in Les Landes (Aquitaine) in France.
The chapel is all that remains of a 12th century fortress of the Knights Templar. The chateau de Géou was razed by the Black Prince in 1355.
Contents
History
On 22 August 1958 Father Joseph Massie, pastor of Creon Armagnac, the Armagnac Mauvezin and Lagrange was inspired by the chapel of Madonna del Ghisallo in Italy to make a similar chapel for cyclists.[1]
On 18 May 1959, Pope John XXIII agreed to the wish of Father Massie making the old chapel a National Sanctuary of Cycling and Cyclists under the protection of the Virgin: Our Lady of cyclists (Notre Dame des Cyclistes).[1]
The Tour de France has passed the chapel four times: in 1984, 1989, 1995 and 2000. There was also a departure from La Bastide d'Armagnac on July 9, 1989.[1][2]
Museum of cycling
The Stained glass window installed by Henri AngladeThe chapel and museum is a focal point for amateur cyclists and tourists. Since 1958[citation needed] it was converted in Museum of Cycling in aid of French racing and touring cyclists. Numerous champions have donated their shirts, including: André Darrigade, Jacques Anquetil, Louison Bobet, Tom Simpson, Roger Lapébie, Jean Stablinski, Bernard Hinault, Raymond Poulidor, Eddy Merckx, Luis Ocaña[1]
The chapel includes a stained glass window designed and created by Henri Anglade, a former rider of the Tour de France, to represent cycling. It was reportedly intended to celebrate a thaw in the intense rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, as they shared a bottle (bidon) on the Col d'Izoard during the 1952 Tour de France.[3]
The bicycle used in the French film 'Les Cracks', directed by Alex Joffé in 1968, is on display at the museum.
Other Chapels of Cycling
- Madonna del Ghisallo, situated in Magreglio near Lake Como and was dedicated to Italian cycling in 1948 by Pope Pius XII.[4]
- Nuestra Senora de Dorleta, situated in Leintz-Gatzaga (in Basque) or Salinas de Léniz (in Spanish) in the province of Guipuzcoa.[5]
References
Coordinates: 43°57′18″N 0°09′44″W / 43.954872°N 0.162244°W
Categories:- Buildings and structures in Landes
- Chapels in France
- Cycling in France
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