Basilique Notre Dame du Chêne

Marian pilgrimage and diocesan spiritual centre, Academy for Integral Ecology

In 1494, following a series of mysterious events, the parish priest of the village of Vion placed a statuette of the Virgin and Child in the hollow of a very old oak tree. This was the starting point of the pilgrimage. A century later, the Virgin Mary appeared there. The paintings in the choir of the basilica recall this story, rich in wisdom and hope. In the neighbouring park, the most faithful reproduction of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in Europe will be built.
The Shrine of Notre-Dame du Chêne has become the most important place of pilgrimage in the Le Mans diocese. It welcomes around 70,000 visitors a year.
It is located 5 km from Solesmes.
Since 2016, the permaculture gardens have also been open to people wishing to learn about Integral Ecology. https://www.academie-ecologie-integrale.org