Chapelle du Viaulnay Notre Dame- de Pitié

Discover the magnificent Notre-Dame de Pitié Chapel in Viaulnay, near the village of Loigné-sur-Mayenne. An exceptional site in the heart of the Mayenne region. The building, which is currently undergoing restoration, is adorned with 16th-century painted panelling.

Tucked away in lush greenery a few kilometres from Château-Gontier, in the commune of La Roche-Neuville (Loigné-sur-Mayenne), the Notre-Dame-de-Pitié Chapel in Viaulnay is a rare gem of the Mayenne region’s religious heritage. Listed as a Historic Monument, this 16th-century building reopened its doors following an exemplary restoration completed in 2015. A poetic and intimate retreat, untouched by time.

​The chapel was built in 1561 at the request of François Mauguy, lord of the manor and seneschal of Château-Gontier. Suffering terribly from gout (a very painful joint condition), the lord vowed to build this sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy to implore her for a cure. ’

​The chapel’s crowning glory lies in its impressive panelled barrel vault. Originally, this wooden ceiling was adorned with 18 painted scenes depicting stories from the Old and New Testaments. The history of these works is incredible: in the 19th century, whilst the chapel was being used as an agricultural storehouse, tracings of these paintings were made and sent… to the World’s Fair in St Louis, USA, in 1904! To protect them from the ravages of time, the precious original wooden panels were removed and placed in safe storage (at the Laval Museum). Today, the restored building once again reveals the splendour of its timber framework and magnificent original whitewashed walls.

​Practical information for your visit:
The chapel comes particularly to life during the summer months and opens its doors wide every year during the European Heritage Days in September. The chapel is situated on private property. To help organise your visit, please contact us on 06 03 38 24 24.