Site history

Like many country chapels, the history of the site is only briefly preserved. A statue found by a farmer plowing his field brings out a miraculously pure spring. This legend is of course not dated, but the statue of the virgin really exists and we know that there were various dwellings here during the Saracen incursions around the year 1000. There was undoubtedly also a sanctuary and this statue could come from there.

Much later, in 1619, it was decided to build a chapel on the old sanctuary, the ruins of which still existed. It should be noted in passing that we do not know how the statue got into the field. An expansion is documented in 1669, it may be the adjoining hermitage. A reconstruction is documented in 1757 as well as successive repairs during the 18th century. The Revolution did not leave any notable traces and from 1820 the chapel was visited a lot.

The law of December 9, 1905 concerning the separation of Churches and State puts an end to various pilgrimages. This law does not prohibit worship, but simply no longer finances it. Suddenly, no one is interested anymore. The buildings quickly fall into disrepair and the roofs collapse. In 1925, the walls were in danger of collapsing. The commune sold the chapel at auction and it was the parish priest of the commune, Abbé Reynaud, who acquired it. Lacking money, the ruin remains abandoned to its fate.

In 1950, an oratory was erected with stones from the chapel. Rural festivals were organized around the ruin of the chapel in the 1950s. The profits from these festivals were finally used for the complete restoration which was finished in May 1958.

Description

Hubages is a corruption of the word Ubac which designates the northern slope of an elevation, this one generally being less sunny. And this is the location of this chapel unlike many others which are located high up.

The chapel is covered in ivy. The various bodies of the building are the rectangular nave and the two adjoining side chapels. To the west and south is the hermitage. Currently, this hermitage is inhabited by a sister who opens the site daily.

At the entrance to the chapel there is information. The majority of the interior is not original, even the statue of the historic virgin is missing as it is to be found in the Dauphin church. The recent ceramic pieta by Pierre Graille replaces it.

The chapel is private property and is only maintained by donations.

A picnic table is located on the meadow in front of the chapel.

Access by public transport

It is not possible to get to the chapel by public transport. Saint-Maime can be reached by bus, see Zou! (only french), and there are taxi services. Drive from Saint-Maime: 5 minutes.

Access by car

We are in the Manosque region and near the Durance Valley. Except when coming from Lubéron and Vaucluse, you arrive on the A51 motorway at the Manosque exit. Do not cross this city with its eternal traffic jams. Proceed anyway towards Manosque and turn at the roundabout before the EDF canal towards Volx and reach this village. Cross it and head towards Dauphin at the exit and also at the following intersections. After also turning towards the Zone Artisanale of Saint Maime, we cross the bridge on the left to arrive at Dauphin. Cross the village and head towards the Col du Mort d'Imbert at the exit.

From the Luberon via Apt, we drive towards Forcalquier. After a first junction for Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire on the left, we take the one a little further on for Dauphin on the right. Stay on the main road (the D5) without entering the center of the village and then follow the sign towards the Col de la Mort d'Imbert.

For both directions: just after the bridge, turn right where an old sign indicates the chapel in Provençal: Nosto-Damo d'Ubajo. Continue this small road for a little over a kilometre. We pass under the chapel, then turn left.

Parking site

We park in front of the adjoining hermitage.