Basilique Notre Dame de Pitié

Perched on the top of the hill, the Basilica of Pitié surprises by its imposing magnificence. Visible from afar, it seduces from close up by the purity of its neo-gothic style. The Calvary with its seven fountains is a unique architectural ensemble in Poitou. Built between 1891 and 1925, this sanctuary is dedicated to Mary, the tradition reporting that a virgin was found by a ploughman on the site of Pitié. The Calvary and its seven fountains were erected at the southern end of the esplanade from 1865 by Abbot Laurentin. Since 1873, important events and pilgrimages have attracted considerable crowds to Pitié, and even today it is the busiest pilgrimage centre in Poitou.