Route spirituelle de Paray-le-Monial

Park in the small car park on the corner of Avenue Jean-Paul II and the Bourbince.

(S/E) Head towards the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, an architectural masterpiece of the Romanesque style.

(1) Walk round the basilica at the apse to enter the Parc des Chapelains and its diorama. It was created to welcome pilgrims following the bicentenary of the Apparitions in 1875. Around 1902, a dome was erected in the centre of the park, where celebrations are still held today. On the left is the ‘Diorama’, where 18 paintings and relief scenes depict the apparitions of Christ to the Visitation nun Marguerite-Marie.

On leaving the Parc des Chapelains, turn right onto Rue de la Visitation. After the Hôtel de la Basilique on your left, you will find the pilgrims’ reception centre. It houses an exhibition of 17th-century religious artefacts, some of which were used by Marguerite-Marie Alacoque. A film provides an insight into the history and contemporary relevance of the message of the apparitions.

(2) Opposite the Pilgrims’ Reception Centre stands the Chapel of the Visitation, known as the Chapel of the Apparitions. It was here that the Visitation nun Marguerite-Marie Alacoque received the apparitions of the Heart of Jesus between 1673 and 1675, which were authenticated by her confessor, the Jesuit Father Claude La Colombière. Marguerite-Marie was canonised by Benedict XV in 1920. Today, visitors can pay their respects before her wax effigy.
Continue along Rue de la Visitation, then turn right onto Rue de la Paix.

(3) Turn right onto Avenue de Charolles. After passing the Dominican Monastery, turn right to reach the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Romay. This site was used as a stone quarry during the construction of the basilica.

(4) Head back towards the city centre along Avenue de Charolles.

(3) At the junction with Rue de la Paix, you’ll arrive at the Musée du Hiéron. Discover the National Treasure of Joseph Chaumet, jeweller to high society in Paris: a three-metre-by-three-metre piece of goldsmith’s work depicting the life of Christ, as well as the Romanesque portal of Anzy-le-Duc, Italian paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries, and a collection of modern and contemporary art.

On leaving the museum, cross Rue Pasteur to reach the Chapelle Saint-Claude La Colombière. Inspired by Byzantine architecture, its interior is adorned with mosaics and stained-glass windows by the Mauméjean brothers.
Head back towards the museum, take Rue de la Paix, then turn left onto Rue de la Visitation until you reach the basilica. Then walk along Avenue Jean-Paul II to the car park at the starting point (S/E).