The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, France

Site of the longest approved Marian apparitions in Church history, where Our Lady appeared to shepherdess Benoîte Rencurel for 54 years (1664-1718), drawing pilgrims seeking healing and reconciliation.

In a remote Alpine valley where the word "Laus" means both "lake" and "praise," the Virgin Mary chose an illiterate shepherdess to become her voice for fifty-four years—the longest continuous series of Marian apparitions ever approved by the Catholic Church. Whether you're seeking the healing oil that has drawn pilgrims for centuries, walking the same paths where Benoîte Rencurel encountered heaven, or simply curious about this hidden treasure that philosopher Jean Guitton called "one of the most powerful in the history of Europe," Notre-Dame du Laus offers an encounter with extraordinary grace in an exceptionally beautiful setting. In May 1664, a seventeen-year-old shepherdess named Benoîte Rencurel was tending her flock in the mountains southeast of Gap when she encountered a radiant "beautiful lady" who would transform her life—and this remote valley—forever. Benoîte, who had never learned to read or write, had spent her days praying the Rosary while guiding sheep through the Alpine meadows. Her father had died when she was seven, leaving the family in poverty, and by twelve she was working as a shepherdess to help her widowed mother survive. For four months, the Lady appeared daily but did not reveal her identity. Then on August 29, she spoke the words that would echo through centuries: "I am Dame Mary, the Mother of my very dear Son." A month later, after guiding Benoîte to a forgotten chapel in the hamlet of Laus, Mary unveiled her mission: "I have asked my Son for this place for the conversion of sinners, and He has granted it to me." The abandoned chapel of Notre-Dame de Bon Rencontre—Our Lady of the Good Encounter—would become the foundation of a great sanctuary. Word spread quickly. By spring 1665, pilgrims were flooding into the valley. Within eighteen months, 130,000 souls had made the journey to this remote corner of the Dauphiné Alps. The bishop's investigation confirmed the authenticity of the events, and between 1666 and 1669, a church rose around the ancient chapel. Mary had also promised something remarkable: that the oil from the sanctuary lamp, applied with faith in her intercession, would bring healing. That promise has drawn the faithful ever since. What makes Laus extraordinary is not just the apparitions' duration—fifty-four years until Benoîte's death on Christmas Day 1718—but their intimacy. Mary educated this simple shepherdess, appearing to her in the chapel, in her modest home, and on the mountainsides. Benoîte received the gift of reading hearts, discerning the spiritual state of those who came to her, and she spent decades guiding pilgrims toward confession and conversion. Between 1669 and 1684, she was graced five times with visions of Christ crucified on the Cross of Avançon. She became a Third Order Dominican, ministering to penitents until her final breath. Today, 150,000 to 200,000 pilgrims annually make their way to this valley where the Southern Alps meet Provence. The sanctuary complex includes the basilica enclosing the original chapel, Benoîte's modest birthplace, the Chapel of the Precious Blood at the Cross of Avançon, and the monument at Pindreau where Mary first pointed the way. A team of diocesan priests, Benedictine Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre, and lay volunteers welcome visitors year-round. The message remains what it has been since 1664: reconciliation—with God, with others, and with oneself.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

Benoîte Rencurel entered the world on September 16, 1647, in the village of Saint-Étienne d'Avançon. Her family's circumstances were humble, and when her father Guillaume died in 1654, they became poorer still. By age twelve, Benoîte was earning her keep as a shepherdess, spending long days alone with flocks on the mountainsides. With no school in her village and no opportunity for formal education, she turned her solitude into prayer, reciting the Rosary hour after hour as she wandered the Alpine pastures. In May 1664, something changed. Near a ruined chapel dedicated to Saint Maurice—a third-century martyr long venerated in the region—Benoîte encountered an elderly man dressed as a bishop of the early Church. He warned her that her flock was trespassing on another lord's territory and directed her to a valley above Saint-Étienne where she would "see the Mother of God." The man was Saint Maurice himself, and his promise proved true. For four months, the radiant Lady appeared daily, gradually preparing Benoîte for her mission. On August 29, 1664, she finally revealed herself: "I am Dame Mary, the Mother of my very dear Son." When Benoîte asked what Mary desired, the answer was striking in its simplicity: she wanted sinners to return to God through the sacrament of confession. In late September, Mary led Benoîte to the hamlet of Laus—then just twenty households scattered in little huts—and to a forgotten chapel called Notre-Dame de Bon Rencontre. "Go to the Laus," Mary instructed, "you will find a chapel from which sweet scents will emanate, and there you will speak to me often." Following the miraculous fragrance of violets, Benoîte found the dilapidated chapel. Inside, standing upon the altar, Mary declared: "I have asked my Son for this place for the conversion of sinners, and He has granted it to me." The Virgin requested that a church be built, along with a house for priests to hear confessions. She also revealed that the oil from the sanctuary lamp would bring healing to those who applied it with faith. This "oil of Laus" would become one of the sanctuary's most distinctive features, and testimonies of physical and spiritual healings have accumulated over more than three centuries. Pilgrims began arriving almost immediately. By spring 1665, the flow had become a flood—130,000 in just eighteen months, all seeking confession, healing, and the fragrant signs that often accompanied Mary's presence. The Archbishop of Embrun authorized the pilgrimage in September 1665, and construction began the following year. The new church, built between 1666 and 1669, incorporated the original chapel of Bon Rencontre within its walls. Benoîte, entirely devoted to her mission, moved to Laus permanently in 1672. The Virgin had given her the extraordinary gift of reading hearts—the ability to perceive the spiritual state of those who approached her. She would counsel pilgrims, prepare them for confession, and send them to priests who marveled at the depth of the penitents' contrition. In addition to Mary, Benoîte received visions of angels, numerous saints including Joseph, Barbara, and Catherine of Siena, and even the Child Jesus. The most profound of her mystical experiences were the five apparitions of Christ crucified, which occurred between 1669 and 1684 at a natural rock outcropping called the Cross of Avançon. Our Lord invited her to share in His Passion, and she bore the "sufferings of Friday" for many years. The Chapel of the Precious Blood, built in 1862 in Romanesque style on an octagonal plan, now marks this sacred spot. The sanctuary weathered dark periods. During the violent upheavals of the 1790s, the site was devastated and abandoned. But faith endured, and restoration came in the following century. On May 23, 1855, Pope Pius IX granted a canonical coronation to the statue of Our Lady of Laus, with 40,000 pilgrims attending the ceremony. In 1872, he declared Benoîte a Servant of God. Pope Leo XIII elevated the church to a minor basilica in 1892. From 1818 to 1841, the sanctuary was under the pastoral care of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, founded by Saint Eugène de Mazenod, who held deep devotion to Our Lady of Laus. Another great saint, Peter Julian Eymard—founder of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers—made a sixty-kilometer pilgrimage to Laus on foot at age eleven, preparing for his First Communion. He returned throughout his life, once declaring: "It's the most beautiful and holiest place of pilgrimage in the world after Notre Dame de Loreto. It's the pilgrimage place of my youth. I owe everything to it." The modern era brought official recognition at last. On May 4, 2008, Bishop Jean-Michel di Falco Léandri promulgated a decree formally recognizing the apparitions as Our Lady of Laus, Refuge of Sinners—the first Marian apparition approved by the Church since Beauraing and Banneux in the 1940s. The Apostolic Nuncio to France, several cardinals, and numerous bishops attended the celebratory Mass. The following year, Pope Benedict XVI declared Benoîte Rencurel "Venerable," recognizing her heroic virtue and advancing her cause for beatification. Today the sanctuary is served by diocesan priests, the Benedictine Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre (who arrived in October 2008), and dedicated lay volunteers. The message given to Benoîte three and a half centuries ago remains as urgent as ever: reconciliation with God, with others, and with oneself.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Saint-Étienne-le-Laus

The sanctuary of Notre-Dame du Laus unfolds across a peaceful Alpine valley, with several sacred sites marking the locations of Benoîte's encounters with heaven. The main complex includes the basilica and pilgrim facilities, while other sites—Pindreau, the Chapel of Precious Blood, Benoîte's birthplace—are accessible by car or on foot, some within minutes, others requiring longer walks through forests and meadows.

Basilica of Notre-Dame du Laus

Local Name: Basilique Notre-Dame du Laus Address: Sanctuaire Notre-Dame du Laus, 05130 Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, France GPS Coordinates: 44.5208, 6.1524 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: sanctuaire-notredamedulaus.com Dedication: Our Lady of the Good Encounter (Notre-Dame de Bon Rencontre) Historical Note: Built between 1666 and 1669 around the original chapel where Mary appeared to Benoîte, the basilica remains modest in size—seating only 300—but immense in spiritual significance. Pope Leo XIII elevated it to a minor basilica in 1892. Within its walls lies the Chapel of Bon Rencontre, where the perpetually burning oil lamp provides the healing oil that pilgrims have sought for over three centuries. Spiritual Importance: The basilica houses the crowned statue of Our Lady of Laus and the tomb of Venerable Benoîte Rencurel, located before the main altar. Here pilgrims participate in daily Mass, receive the oil anointing, and experience the sacrament of reconciliation that remains the heart of Laus's mission. The fragrance that once guided Benoîte to this spot is still occasionally reported by visitors.

Chapel of the Precious Blood (Chapelle du Précieux-Sang)

Local Name: Chapelle du Précieux-Sang Address: Near the sanctuary complex, accessible by footpath GPS Coordinates: 44.5178, 6.1489 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Dedication: The Precious Blood of Christ Historical Note: This octagonal Romanesque chapel was built in 1862 over the exact spot where the Cross of Avançon stood—the natural rock outcropping where Christ crucified appeared to Benoîte five times between 1669 and 1684. The original wooden cross, though worn by the devotion of centuries of pilgrims, is preserved within a gilded copper case suspended above the altar. Spiritual Importance: This is where Benoîte was invited to participate in Christ's Passion, receiving the "sufferings of Friday" that she bore for fifteen years. The chapel's eight stained-glass oculi depict scenes from Benoîte's life, including the apparition of the crucified Christ surrounded by angels. A bell in the tower, cast in 1864, bears the name "Maria Benedicta."

Pindreau Monument

Local Name: Le Pindreau Address: Hillside overlooking the Avance Valley (30-60 minute walk from sanctuary) GPS Coordinates: 44.5142, 6.1551 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Historical Note: This is where Mary first appeared to Benoîte and pointed her toward the hamlet of Laus below. A monument with a statue of the Virgin, arm outstretched indicating the way, now marks the spot. The original oratory has been replaced by this more substantial commemoration. Spiritual Importance: Walking to Pindreau is one of the classic pilgrim exercises at Laus. The path climbs through forest and opens to sweeping views of the Avance Valley, allowing pilgrims to trace Benoîte's footsteps as she followed Mary's guidance. Reflective panels along the way invite meditation on the shepherdess's journey.

Birthplace of Benoîte Rencurel

Local Name: Maison Natale de Benoîte Address: Near the sanctuary, within the hamlet of Saint-Étienne d'Avançon GPS Coordinates: 44.5195, 6.1507 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Historical Note: This humble dwelling, modest and unadorned, is where Benoîte was born in 1647 and where she later received sinners seeking conversion. She moved to Laus permanently in 1672, but this house remained a place of ministry where she counseled pilgrims and exercised her gift of reading hearts. Spiritual Importance: Visiting Benoîte's birthplace offers insight into the poverty and simplicity from which this remarkable woman emerged. The house is dedicated to prayer and meditation, a reminder that God chose the lowly and unlettered to accomplish His purposes.

Oratory of the Angel's Pass (Col de l'Ange)

Local Name: Oratoire du Col de l'Ange Address: Mountain pass above the sanctuary (30-minute steep walk) GPS Coordinates: 44.5235, 6.1445 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Historical Note: This oratory features a niche with a statue of the Virgin, topped by a column bearing an angel with hands extended toward approaching pilgrims. For more than 300 years, pilgrims have climbed the gullied path to this pass, which offers magnificent panoramas over the valleys. Spiritual Importance: The ascent to the Col de l'Ange is a challenging devotional exercise that has formed part of the Laus pilgrimage experience for centuries. The angel's welcoming gesture and the expansive views create a powerful space for prayer and contemplation.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

September 8 – Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Basilica of Notre-Dame du Laus. The principal feast of the sanctuary, celebrating Mary's birth with solemn Mass, processions through the valley, and special devotions drawing pilgrims from across France and beyond. December 28 – Feast of Venerable Benoîte Rencurel Basilica of Notre-Dame du Laus. Three days after her death on Christmas 1718, the sanctuary honors its shepherdess-mystic with commemorative liturgies, veneration at her tomb, and reflection on her life of hidden holiness.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Hôtellerie Notre-Dame du Laus 📍 Address: Sanctuaire Notre-Dame du Laus, 05130 Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, France 🌐 Website: sanctuaire-notredamedulaus.com/hotellerie One of the largest pilgrim facilities in the Hautes-Alpes, the sanctuary hotel offers 250 rooms, a 540-seat restaurant, bookshop, relaxation area, a 15-bed gîte, two 25-bed dormitories ("Saint-François" and "Sainte-Claire"), and a 12-bed campsite. Open year-round. Gîte du Pèlerin 📍 Address: Sanctuaire Notre-Dame du Laus, 05130 Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, France A shared pilgrim gîte offering 15 beds in 9 rooms of 1-3 beds each, with showers and toilets on each floor. Simple, economical accommodation for pilgrims traveling light. ibis Gap Centre ⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Rue Elisée Chatin, 05000 Gap, France 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Modern chain hotel in downtown Gap, about 10km from the sanctuary, with 63 air-conditioned rooms, restaurant, bar, and underground parking. Mon Hôtel à Gap ⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: 2 Place Frédéric Euzières, 05000 Gap, France Centrally located in Gap, a short walk from the cathedral, offering comfortable rooms and continental breakfast.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: The nearest major airports are Marseille-Provence (MRS, approximately 180km), Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS, approximately 200km), and Nice-Côte d'Azur (NCE, approximately 200km). Grenoble-Alpes-Isère airport is closer (120km) but has limited international connections. Car rental is recommended from any of these airports. By Train: Take the TGV to Gap-Briançon station. The sanctuary operates a shuttle service between the train station and Notre-Dame du Laus—check the sanctuary website for current schedules. Journey time from Paris Gare de Lyon is approximately 4-5 hours with connection in Grenoble or Valence. By Bus: Regular bus services connect Gap with Marseille, Grenoble, Nice, Barcelonnette, and Briançon. From Gap, taxi or shuttle service reaches the sanctuary. By Car: From Gap, take the D994B south toward La Bâtie-Neuve, then follow signs to Saint-Étienne-le-Laus (approximately 10km). From Marseille, take the A51 north toward Sisteron, then continue on the N85 (Route Napoléon) to Gap. Free parking is available at the sanctuary. On Foot: Notre-Dame du Laus lies on a variant of the Way of Saint James (Chemin de Saint-Jacques), and serious pilgrims sometimes arrive on foot from Gap or other points along the Alpine route.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • René Combal, Notre-Dame du Laus: Histoire et Message – Comprehensive French-language history of the apparitions and sanctuary.
  • Benoît Bemelmans, Benoîte Rencurel: Une vie pour Dieu et les pécheurs – Biography of the visionary shepherdess.
  • Michel Vovelle (ed.), Les Manuscrits du Laus – Critical edition of the original eyewitness accounts from the 17th century.

Articles & Online Resources:

🎥 Recommended Videos

🔗 Useful Links

💡 Nearby Pilgrimage Sites

La Salette (70km): Site of the 1846 apparition of Our Lady to two shepherd children, Mélanie Calvat and Maximin Giraud, in the French Alps. The sanctuary includes the apparition site, basilica, and extensive pilgrim facilities. Cotignac (180km): The only place where the entire Holy Family—Mary, Joseph, and Jesus—has appeared in Church-approved apparitions. The Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Grâces (1519 Marian apparitions) and the Monastery of Saint Joseph du Bessillon (1660 apparition) draw 150,000 pilgrims annually. Abbey of Boscodon (30km): A beautifully restored 12th-century Romanesque abbey near Embrun, offering a contemplative atmosphere and regular liturgical celebrations.

✝️ Closing Reflection

"I have asked my Son for this place for the conversion of sinners, and He has granted it to me."

— Our Lady to Benoîte Rencurel, Notre-Dame du Laus, September 1664

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For the most current information on Mass schedules, retreat programs, and accommodation availability, please contact the sanctuary directly through their official website.