Notre-Dame de la Rivière Church

The Église Notre-Dame de la Rivière, which dates back to the 11th century, was until the 19th century the site of a devotion to the Virgin Mary.

According to an ancient legend, the river Artière flooded and threatened the old neighbourhoods of the village at the foot of the ruins. The flood stopped exactly where a statue of the Virgin Mary stood, and a church was built at this spot.

The most primitive part of the Église Notre-Dame de la Rivière is its nave, dating from the late 11th century or the early 12th century. The transept, the choir and the bell tower were rebuilt then revamped between the 14th and 18th centuries. The arch over the west door is from 1747.

Until the end of the 19th century, the church was the site of a fervent devotion to the Virgin Mary. On 2 February each year, the day of the “Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, the patronal feast was celebrated. Ceremonies were held on this day, and on the day before a novena was held (nine consecutive days of exercises of piety). A family from Beaumont was designated to decorate the church and maintain the flame of the Blessed Sacrament and the altar linens. The Beaumont archives contain the procession banners dedicated to Notre-Dame de la Rivière. They were likely put on display during the feast.

The building has been on the historic monuments registry since 1926.