Childebert, daughter of
Clovis I, reported that she had had a vision of the
Virgin Mary, carrying the infant Christ, and accompanied by
Saint Peter. This led her to found a chapel at the side of the
Rieu Mauri, the small stream now known as the
ruisseau Saint-Jean. This later grew into the
Benedictine abbey of Saint Peter, the centre of a considerable
pilgrimage. Increasing wealth allowed the abbey to begin construction of a considerable
Romanesque church in the 11th century, commencing with the
choir. The
nave and
belfry followed in the 12th century, and the process culminated in the building of a great west
portal, surmounted by an
Ascension of Christ, in the 13th. The belfry fell into disrepair during the
French Wars of Religion and during the
French Revolution, requiring reconstruction in 1625 and in 1845. The two towers were 17th century additions. The abbey itself was dissolved during the Revolution and the land sold off in lots. The remains of the abbey buildings were incorporated into houses and municipal buildings. A large part of these remains, including the
chapter house, were purchased by the town in 1984 and restored with the help of the
Ministry of Culture. The town became notable during the Revolutionary period for the work of
Catherine Jarrige (1754–1836), a
tertiary of the
Dominican Order, famous both for her works of charity. She was especially noted for concealing refractory
priests, who refused to compromise with state control of the Church, as embodied in
Civil Constitution of the Clergy of 1790. She remains closely associated with the church and was
beatified by
Pope John Paul II in 1996. The church, now known as Notre-Dame-des-Miracles, was promoted to the status of
basilica in 1921, under
Pope Benedict XV, and is now one of 167 churches so recognised in France. It remains a place of pilgrimage, and its fine furnishings and fittings attract considerable interest. ==Administration==