chapelle Sainte-Geneviève du Chevalet

The Sainte-Geneviève du Chevalet chapel in Saint-Maurice-sous-les-Côtes is a small religious building in the Meuse department, tucked inside the Lorraine Regional Nature Park (Parc naturel régional de Lorraine). It stands in woodland right on a hiking trail that crosses the Côtes de Meuse ridge, and today it draws more walkers than worshippers.

How do you get there?

The chapel sits outside the built-up part of Saint-Maurice-sous-les-Côtes, in the forested terrain typical of the Côtes de Meuse — the line of hills running through the department. The easiest approach is to drive to the village and continue on foot along the marked trail that leads straight to the building. It's worth checking the exact coordinates (49.009187, 5.674618) on a map before setting off, because there's no road access all the way to the door — the final stretch is always a walk through the forest.

What will you actually see there?

This is not the usual story of a heritage chapel. In 2009 the building was damaged by an accidental fire, and its condition became worrying enough that the owning commune had to decide between demolition and rebuilding. It chose to rebuild, but in an unusual way. In 2012, backed by the Lorraine Regional Nature Park, the commune launched an architectural competition with three goals: preserve the existing heritage, allow the space to host cultural events such as concerts and readings, and turn it into a welcoming stop for hikers and school groups on field trips.

The result is a rectangular building of roughly 70 square metres in which the architects used timber — chosen for ecological reasons, but also giving the structure a distinct, contemporary look. The mix of the old stone shell and the new wooden framework means the chapel now works as more than a place of worship: it's a shelter for hikers caught out by bad weather, a venue for the commune's summer events, and a stop for school groups learning about the local landscape. Trade press covered it as a "chapelle-refuge" — a refuge chapel in the middle of the forest — which sums up its current role well.

The name "du Chevalet" refers to a local place name near Saint-Maurice-sous-les-Côtes where the chapel was built, distinguishing it from other chapels dedicated to Saint Geneviève elsewhere in the region.

When is the best time to visit?

Given its exposed, forested setting, spring through autumn is the best window, when the Côtes de Meuse hiking trails are in good condition and the woodland offers welcome shade on warmer days. This is better treated as a stop on a longer outing through the Lorraine Regional Nature Park than as a destination on its own — pair it with nearby villages and trails across the Meuse department.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside the Sainte-Geneviève du Chevalet chapel? The building operates as a hiker's shelter and a venue for events organised by the commune, so access to the interior may depend on that event schedule — check current local information before you go.

Why was the chapel rebuilt in timber? After the 2009 fire, the commune chose to rebuild rather than demolish. A 2012 architectural competition, supported by the Lorraine Regional Nature Park, produced a design built around a wooden structure — an ecological material choice that also gave the building its new, distinctive character.

Can you drive right up to the chapel? Not entirely — the building stands in forest, off the road network, so the last part of the approach has to be done on foot along the marked trail.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The chapel sits at the heart of the Côtes de Meuse and the Lorraine Regional Nature Park, an area known for its network of hiking trails and small villages — a solid base for exploring more of the Meuse department.