Listen closely for a tale of resilience and faith. It is a story etched in the very stones of the Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Bois. This chapel stands not just as a building but as a testament to the enduring spirit of a community. It is also a symbol of hope amid the ravages of time and war.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Bois finds its roots in the mid-19th century. Malvina Creutzer commissioned its construction in 1859. She was the daughter of the owner of the Erbsenthal estate. The chapel replaced an older one. That one was likely destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War. This new chapel was built with local materials. Sandstone and dimension stone formed its walls. The roof was covered in flat tiles wood and slate. Its design features a simple layout with a single nave. Rib vaults grace the ceiling. A polygonal chevet adds a touch of elegance. A small bell tower rises above the first bay of the nave.
Time passed but the Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Bois faced hardship. World War II left it scarred. The roof was damaged. Its interior was plundered. Benches chandeliers and a statue of Notre-Dame disappeared. Even the walls were defaced. Soldiers of the Maginot Line covered them with inscriptions. The chapel served as a stable. The entrance door faded to a dreary gray. Some letters were even missing from the inscription above the entrance. It should have read: Notre-Dame-des-Bois Priez Pour Nous. Rust consumed the iron gate.
Curé Langenfeld of Saint-Louis-lès-Bitche witnessed this desolation. Born in Erbsenthal in 1902 he spent his childhood nearby. His father had worked for the Creutzer family. In 1967 Langenfeld returned to find his childhood chapel ruined. He felt compelled to act. In the 1970s Langenfeld sought help. He found it in an unexpected place. The Ulrich family from Illkirch offered a statue of the Virgin Mary. They also promised to help with the restoration.
Every Wednesday in the summer of 1973 Abbé Langenfeld arrived with tools. He had plaster water buckets and food. Often working alone he tirelessly repaired the walls and roof. In May and June 1974 the Rimlinger family joined his efforts. A celebration marked their achievement. They celebrated a Mass in honor of the Virgin Mary. They blessed the statue of Notre-Dame two angels and the long-lost bell. The bell had been found in the bell tower. Its striker was broken but it was repaired.
Today the Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Bois continues to be a place of pilgrimage. Abbé Scheidt obtained permission. The Dietrich family now owns the estate. They allow the chapel to be open for a pilgrimage. It takes place every Whit Monday since 1974. The roof was renovated in 1987. Abbé Langenfeld refreshed the interior. The de Dietrich family repaired the stained glass windows in 1989. Hundreds of tourists visit each year. They come to wander the forests. Many locals come to find solace.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Bois stands as a symbol. It is a symbol of faith restored. It is a beacon of hope for generations to come. Its story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times community spirit can triumph.