A Pinay in Europe

We were on our way to a late afternoon walk when we saw on the village bulletin board a notice of a concert to be held at a neighbouring village tonight. We looked at our watch, gosh, the show starts in 1.5 hours! So we cut short our hike to a 20-minuter, got changed and quickly drove to the venue.

Notre Dame des Fontaines

Situated in a remote woodland 8-minute drive from the medieval village of La Brigue, we have come across this chapel a few times during our walking tours but we never had the chance to see the interior as the door and windows were always locked.

 
The chapel

The writing says:
“Sanctuary of Notre Dame des Fontaines
12th century chapel, 15th century frescoes
Place of prayer and pilgrimage
Visitors, silence (please)”

Upon entering the chapel, we couldn’t believe what we saw! Frescoes covering the entire interior: the two side walls, the altar, the rear, the ceiling….we were instantly put in a trance!

Judas Iscariot being de-gutted by a monkey (yikes!)

These remarkable frescoes created by two Italian masters Canavesio and Baleison in 1492 recount the life of the Virgin Mary and the Passion of Christ in 25 scenes. More amazing is the Last Judgment painted on the rear of the chapel (picture above).

The choir sang a cappella mediterranean songs typical of gypsy music from Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey and beyond

They sang beautifully and with so much passion that I was on the edge of having goose pimples. And listen to this, when my attention momentarily turned to the frescoes on the wall, i felt there and then that their singing was perfectly blending into each holy scene! Just like in the movies, when the director calls for a choir chant as a musical background to render the scene more powerful! Truly, this group has the makings of a movie soundtrack chanters!

For their exceptional performance, they were actually given a standing ovation! And again, this show is free but we had to give 5-euros on our way out, otherwise, it’s embarrassing not to while the others brushing elbows with us were happily donating away

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