Shrine of the Garoupe - Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Port - Antibes

The sanctuary, built in 1520, consists of a round tower, the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Garde and the Chapelle Sainte-Hélène, joined under one roof. The chapel is unique in that two statues of Mary are venerated in two separate aisles.

Originally a Ligurian plateau dedicated to Selene, the moon goddess , Empress Helena, mother of Constantine, is said to have had a chapel built on the site around 328 AD. A medieval chapel was built later, possibly around 981, dedicated to Saint Helena or to Our Lady of the Harbour. This piece of sanctity grew into a full-fledged chapelle in the 10th century.

The chapel has two parts next to each other:

Right nave : dedicated to Notre-Dame de la Garde . Here, a fresco from 1953 – the work of Jacques-Henri Clergues – depicts the papal passage in 1376 and the donation by René of Savoy.

Left nave : dedicated to Notre-Dame de Bon Port , patron saint of sailors. A fresco by Édouard Collin from 1948 adorns this nave.

There is a figurine carved in wood, holding a three-master. B eginning of July, on the first Thursday of the month, the statue is carried in a solemn ceremony, barefoot and marinière, to the cathedral in Antibes ; return is on Sunday. The festivities have their roots in plague epidemics from the 16th century: after processions, the plague is said to have stopped.

There are about 300 paintings and stories of thanksgiving offerings by sailors , fishermen and many others — the oldest dates from 1506. Other works of art include an icon of Byzantine origin (1575), an Italian Assumption from the school of Bréa, and relics from the siege of Sevastopol.

Willem Vandenameele