900-Year-Old Chapel Tradition in Orne Earns Heritage Award Finalist Spot

A 900-year-old tradition at the Sainte-Barbe chapel in La Carneille, Orne, has made the site a finalist for the 2026 Norman Heritage Trophy, with three winners each receiving €10,000. The private chapel with public use hosts a Pentecost Monday gathering of 100 to 200 people, a tradition dating to at least the 12th century. Owner Pascal Billard plans restoration work including roof sealing, plaster repairs, and restoring a 14th-century statue. The chapel, owned by the Pontevès family since 1973, requires funds for essential renovations. Billard emphasizes a duty to preserve the site as a "relay pass" between families, noting its historical role as a witness to local life.