Notre-Dame-de-la-Vie: Baroque Chapel of 1633 in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville

A Baroque sanctuary in the mountains

The present chapel was built in 1633, on a site already occupied by an earlier oratory in the fifteenth century. Legend has it that a stillborn child was miraculously “brought back to life” long enough to be baptised, after his mother prayed at the site: hence the name Notre-Dame-de-la-Vie.

The building is a typical example of rural Savoyard Baroque: Latin cross plan, bulbous bell tower, sober façade in local stone. It is within that the decorative richness is concentrated.

The Baroque altarpiece

The interior houses a polychrome altarpiece from the seventeenth century, listed, one of the most remarkable works of Tarentaise Baroque heritage. Carved wood gilded with gold leaf, scenes from the life of the Virgin, twisted columns, corner statues. The altarpiece was restored in the 2000s by the Historic Monuments service.

Around it, several ex-votos testify to continuing popular devotion: painted panels, marble plaques, for graces obtained (healings, safe returns from war).

The pilgrimage

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Vie pilgrimage remains active. Each 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption, a procession ascends from the village of Saint-Martin to the chapel, followed by an open-air mass. It is one of the identity gatherings of the Belleville valley, bringing together locals and visitors.

Access and visiting

The chapel is accessible:

By car from Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, via the Les Menuires road, with parking nearby.

On foot from the village (approximately 30 minutes’ walk via the heritage trail).

The interior is generally open from June to September, with free access during daytime. In winter, opening by request to the tourist office. The exterior and site are visible year-round.

Who it is designed for

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Vie chapel appeals to:

Visitors drawn to Alpine Baroque heritage, who appreciate the unexpected decorative richness of a rural building.

Hikers and skiers seeking a cultural pause, the site being accessible on foot or by cross-country skiing from Saint-Martin.

Families with children, the short format (15 minutes to visit) and natural setting lending themselves to an educational stop.

Planning a stay in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville

AEC Collection selects and represents quality chalets and apartments in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and the Belleville valley. The chapel remains a free point of interest, integrated into the heritage walking routes offered by the tourist office.