La chapelle Saint-Vital

A few decades ago, the Chapelle Saint-Vital was a major place of pilgrimage for the Pays de Retz region. According to legend, while praying, Saint Vital planted his walking stick in the ground and caused a spring to gush forth at this spot. In 1923, Jean-Marie Filodeau had this chapel built.

History of Saint Vital

The chapel is named after Saint Vital, an Irish hermit born in the 7th century who gave his name to the commune of Saint-Viaud.
Wishing to lead a monastic life, he came to the monastery of Noirmoutier in 725.
But wanting an existence of absolute seclusion, he obtained permission from his superiors to retire to Mount Scorbit, on the Loire estuary, where the church of Saint-Viaud stands today.

One of the first Christian communities in the Pays de Retz grew up around him.
After his death, the legend made him very popular. In particular, he was implored to make it rain.


Legend surrounding the Saint-Vital chapel

The chapel of Saint-Vital, located at La Sicaudais (Arthon-en-Retz) on the route of these processions, bears witness to the hermit's passage.
According to legend, Saint-Vital planted his staff in the ground and a spring sprang up, becoming a place of pilgrimage and procession, particularly during severe droughts.
Today, there is a fountain on this spot, right next to the chapel.

The little building stands in a peaceful spot in the village of Saint-Jules, near the grey milestone that marks the intersection of the communes of Chaumes-en-Retz, Chauvé, Saint-Viaud and Saint-Père-en-Retz.

It was in 1923 that Jean-Marie Filodeau, a very pious man, had this place of prayer built in recognition of the graces obtained by Saint Vital.
He had vowed that, if he returned from the First World War unscathed, he would build a chapel on the Croix de Saint-Vital (also known as the Croix de Saint Viaud), the spot where he went to pray and meditate as a child, and which he bought.

The building stands on the historic route of processions to protect farmers. It became an important place of pilgrimage for neighbouring provinces until the 1960s.
Processions several kilometres long would set off from the churches of the four surrounding parishes, to implore rain:


hymns were sung to the Virgin,
the rosary was recited
and the priests dipped the feet of the crosses in the famous fountain hole to ward off drought.



Family heritage

This private but accessible site is maintained by the descendants of the chapel's founder.
Major renovation work has been carried out in recent years.
Inside the chapel, a place of meditation open to all, there is an explanatory panel on the legend.

The Saint-Vital cross, located nearby near a well, dates from the 15th century. It is the only sculpture in the round in the Pays de Retz.


The little extra :


The site can be explored on a walk past the chapel and cross, taking the La Sicaudais trail in Chaumes-en-Retz (or the Chapelle Saint-Vital trail in Saint-Viaud).
The Filodeau family have provided a number of picnic tables at the rear of the chapel in a shady area.