San Marino Chapel
It is linked to the legend of the martyrdom that bears his name. Born in Italy at the end of the 7th century, Marin avoided honors all his life. Ordained a priest at the age of 20, and about to be ordained a bishop, he fled glory for the first time, setting off for France.
Charmed by the site, he settled at the Champ Doré monastery, later named Le Chandor, in the commune of Le Châtel. This monastery was undoubtedly close to the present-day priory. He began teaching there with such success that his reputation attracted new disciples. Seeing a new danger in this success, he once again went into exile to live as a hermit for four years. "He was to be fed and maintained by bears. He left his retreat only to go, cross in hand, to preach Christ to the Saracen invaders who had first arrived in Maurienne.
Taken prisoner, "he was thrown at the stake, but, spared by the flames, his head was cut off", says the legend.
Charlemagne had his relics transferred to the monastery of Saint-Savin in Poitou.
As the site on the mountainside was very cramped, the rock had to be dug out and a retaining wall built. This wall was beginning to crumble, and in 1993 it was feared that the chapel would be swept away, so it was decided to rebuild it.
The chapel had belonged to the commune since the French Revolution, and it was the commune that renovated the wall as part of a school project.
The simple interior features a Baroque altar with a scrolled torso column and a statue of St. Marin.
A beautifully carved door depicts St. Marino surrounded by bears, recalling a particularly significant episode in his history.
