Pierrelongue: Chapel and sacred art

The chapel on a rocky outcrop is a place to visit in Pierrelongue. Its history spans several building phases, and it houses a collection of sacred art. Check access conditions before visiting. A signposted cycling route and activities on foot also offer practical options for planning your stay.

The chapel and its construction history

A keep and the first chapel, dedicated to Saint Joseph, were built on the rock in 1428. Construction of the Notre-Dame-de-la-Consolation Chapel began in 1900 and took five years. This building phase included the construction of the chapel, a monumental staircase that encircles the rock, and a crypt also dedicated to Saint Joseph. In 1907, the Duchess of Uzès donated a monumental bronze statue of the Virgin and Child. The dates distinguish the rock’s early history from the later building phase and the statue’s donation.

The staircase encircles the rock and has 75 steps. Its stairway bays contain statues of Saint Maurice with a cross and sword, and Saint Joseph with a set square. There is also a saint with the face of Christ in a medallion, and the praying Virgin Mary. Their attributes provide distinctive identifying features and make the staircase a place of religious imagery.

Sacred art and imagery

In the 1980s, the crypt was converted into a repository for sacred art. The collection documents popular religious devotion and is of local artistic and iconographic interest. The church houses the altarpiece and the painting “Institution du Rosaire.” Both date from the 18th century and were listed as movable cultural heritage in 1979.

The work “Institution du Rosaire” depicts the Virgin appearing to Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena.

Cycling route and activities on foot

The signposted cycling route “Le val de l’Aygue Marse” passes through Pierrelongue. It is part of the “La Drôme à vélo” network and is marked with blue marker No. 107. The route name and marker provide clear guidance if you wish to include this stretch in your cycling trip.

A tourist listing for Virée Sauvage, updated on February 3, 2025, names the provider based in Pierrelongue and describes professionally guided themed hikes, playful discovery activities and environmental education. It also lists walks and hikes on foot, as well as orienteering activities. The categories described thus range from guided themed activities to playful discovery and orienteering.

To get there, Pierrelongue can be reached via departmental road D 5 from Buis-les-Baronnies or Mollans-sur-Ouvèze. The chapel offers a focus on cultural history; the cycling route and activities on foot provide other ways to shape your stay. You can plan which options suit your trip based on these different offerings.

Discover more destinations: Roynac, Mornans, Aurel, Condorcet, La Baume-Cornillane, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, Montchenu, Les Granges-Gontardes.

For the overview of the wider region: Drôme.