Savin – Signs of faith, memory, and rebirth
Savin
Signs of faith, memory, and rebirth
In the small village of Savin, history is interwoven with gratitude and faith.
Here, every stone and every silence speak of a time when fear was met by building hope.
In June 1867, a cholera epidemic struck the community of Pontboset, claiming 68 lives. The disease reached nearby villages, but – according to local memory – stopped at Savin.
The villagers saw this as a sign. From that, the desire to give thanks was born: a chapel, initiated by Frédéric Jory and supported by the community, was completed and blessed on November 9, 1869.
The chapel of Savin is still a place of pause and reflection. It has a hexagonal plan, a pointed arch entrance, and neo-Gothic decoration. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, Saint Barbara, and Saint Roch – protectors against illness, fire, and misfortune.
Next to it flows a stream that once powered an old mill – now restored and turned into a rural eatery, but with a long story. It is recorded as early as 1630, when Etienne Chanoux, during a plague outbreak, bequeathed it to his son. The mill appears in records again and again, always tied to the Chanoux family.
Savin speaks in a quiet but powerful voice.
A place where faith didn’t shout, but acted.
Where memory wasn’t lost, but took form.
Where today, the path becomes intimate and aware.
Listen to the story
Suggested activities for kids
Game: Detail Hunt
Crosses placed in special spots were believed to protect the village and its people, to guide travelers and keep dangers away. Did you see the little hexagonal chapel? Try drawing it.
Look for crosses along the path. If you find sticks or dry grass on the ground, try making your own cross and leave it to protect a part of the trail.
Suggested activities for adults
The need for protection is deeply rooted in us from childhood: at first we ask our parents or community for protection; later we often seek it in the divine—for our steps, our life plans, the people we love. Every cross encountered along the trail embodies that need—whether as a request or a gesture of gratitude, a form of care toward oneself, loved ones, and the places.
Consider whether you also have your own way of asking for protection or thanking when you feel protected. Along the trail you will find many natural objects laid on the ground—if you wish, you can create an object that evokes protection for you and leave it in a spot you like, as a reminder when you need that sense of safety.
