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Chapelle de Vaux-Navier

25520 Arc-sous-Cicon

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Today, Jaunotte sets out to explore the chapel at Vaux-Navier (1883), its oratory and the legend of Vaux-Navier (Arc-sous-Cicon). Not far from Arc-sous-Cicon, modestly hidden by a few willows and spruce trees, stands a small chapel whose origins have long since been forgotten... The place is called Vaux-Navier. It was once a favourite spot for young shepherds, who would gather here – not in front of this chapel, but at the foot of a rock shaped like a cave, inside which stood a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, protected by a wrought-iron grille. That day, the conversation was in full swing, and one of the children began to talk about the nearby Virgin and her miracles, citing specific examples: answered prayers and averted epidemics. After this heated discussion, one of them, who did not believe in miracles, said as he approached the Virgin: ‘We’ll see about that!’, and, taking a crust of bread in his hand, he moved towards the Virgin’s mouth, saying: ‘Tian, meuge-en voir st peux’ (Here, eat some if you can). Seeing that the statue remained motionless, he stood up triumphantly, saying: ‘ ‘You can see for yourselves, she can’t eat the bread’” (You can see for yourselves, she can’t eat the bread). This cast a chill amongst the shepherds who believed in the miracles of this holy Virgin, whilst the others stood up proudly, aware of their superiority. A heavy silence hung over the small community. Everyone chewed on their meagre meal, their eyes fixed on the ground. This moment of unease came to an end when some horses managed to break away from the herd. Frantic and panicked, the shepherds rushed to catch them, and as they drew near, one of the shepherds received a violent kick to the jaw, sending him tumbling a few metres away… Everyone immediately recognised our shepherd, his face contorted with pain. At that moment, a mocking neigh made a great impression on the small community living there, who saw it as a punishment inflicted by the Virgin Mary. Of course, the story quickly spread throughout the region, and attempts were made to return the statue to the church at Arc-sous-Cicon… but each time, it would return to its stone hollow. Some would say that she preferred to listen to the bawdy conversations of the young shepherds rather than the heavenly prayers of the nuns.... It was then that it was decided to build a chapel for her, which was destroyed during the Revolution. It was rebuilt in 1883 under the supervision of Father Perruche, thanks to donations from the people of Arc. Some claim that the old Virgin of Vaux-Navier is still in the church at Arc, or that she has been repainted. Sources: P. Dieudé and Frédéric DELGRANDI

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Listing provided by OFFICE DE TOURISME DU PAYS DU HAUT-DOUBS (updated by the source on 29/04/2024).

Tourist office data: DATAtourisme, Licence Ouverte (French open licence), updated 28 October 2026.