CHAPELLE NOTRE-DAME D’HEAS

About

Place of miracles, Héas is a sanctuary already known in 1349. A chapel was destroyed and rebuilt several times (notably in 1915, because of an avalanche). It is located at the foot of the Cirque de Troumouse, at an altitude of 1540m, in the cultural heart of the area inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO.
Legend has it that, in ancient times, shepherds saw two white doves landing near a fountain, a few steps from the torrent. As the phenomenon was repeated, the shepherds followed them with their eyes. One dove flew to the bell tower of Pouey-Laün, in the Val d’Azun, while the other came to rest in the place of the present chapel. Our shepherds were convinced that, by this sign, the Virgin Mary was showing her desire to see a chapel built in this place. A small sanctuary was set up, but where could we find a statue? Out of pure devotion, our shepherds went to Spain (Aragon) to steal the statue of Our Lady of Pine Grove. They thought that the reason for their theft would make it excusable. On the way home, our shepherds fell asleep. Meanwhile, the owners of the statue hunted down and retrieved their Madonna when they saw a light at a certain distance. Miraculously, the fire of anger and vengeance was extinguished, and they let the thieves sleep. When they woke up, the shepherds were very disappointed, but they discovered a beautiful spring under the rock where they had placed the statue (the Rock of Arailhe). A miracle! A statue as beautiful as the Aragonese Virgin Mary appeared to them. It was placed in the chapel
The bathers of Barèges, Saint-Sauveur and Cauterets went up to Héas. So did many Spaniards, covered with shiny embroidery and ribboned hats. Poor and rich, young and old, all came to pay their devotion to Mary. The chapel was soon too small for the large number of visitors, so a larger one was built, but this one was also not big enough. From 1717 to 1724, the chapel was built and remained so until the avalanche of 1915. The chapel was destroyed, but the statue was found buried in the snow, intact as if by a miracle. A new chapel was built in 1928 to replace the one destroyed in January 1915. It is the one we can see today. During the Revolution, the church was sold and remained the property of a few inhabitants of the canton who, little by little, returned it to the devotion of the faithful. In 1848, Monsignor LAURENCE, Bishop of Tarbes, solemnly re-established the services. The pilgrimages were put back under the direction of the Fathers of the Immaculate Conception.
The chapel is accessible from May 1st to November 1st (access road closed in winter). During this period, it is open every day. Father FOUCHOU celebrates mass on Sundays and feast days at 11:00 am, on other days at 6:00 pm. Every year, on August 15th and September 15th, pilgrimage from the valley of Barèges to Gavarnie. Traduction automatique par DeepL via DATAtourisme

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