A Brief History

This fully restored building, whose original chapel dates back to the 9th century, was constructed on the site of a Roman temple. The chapel was a place of pilgrimage because the spring that supplied the building was considered miraculous. Frescoes still visible today depict castles, fountains, and Saint Bacchi. Saint Bacchi was of Syrian origin, a Roman officer who converted to Christianity. He is said to have evangelized the region, lived as a hermit, and died at the location of this chapel.
The Legend: one night, thieves broke into Bacchi’s henhouse and stole his chickens and roosters. As the legend goes, the stolen birds turned to stone. This tale is likely the origin of Jouques’ coat of arms: the rooster and the hen.