Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Sainte Maison de Lorette

When I visited the Murbach abbey last year, I noticed a "Loretto Chapel" nearby. The chapel was placed on a hill, opposite the abbey, but I did not walk up to the chapel. Later I realized, that the by far best "photo-spot" of the abbey must be near the chapel. So when I returned, I walked up to the chapel. Probably hundreds of Loretto Chapels still exist worldwide, all created after the original "casa santa", which is inside the basilica in Loreto, Italy. This "Holy House" is a major place of pilgrimage since the 14th century, as it was believed, that this was the house, where Mary was born and brought up. Legends tell, that angels carried the house through the air from Nazareth to Italy (with a little stopover in Croatia). Historians could trace the "casa santa" back to the time of the cruisades - and even found out, that a family with the family name "Angeli" is connected to the early times of the shrine. Sitting on the benches seen here, you´ll have a breathtaking view - and immidiatly prepare your camera...