Our Lady of the Snow - Procession to San Grato Lake

Traditional procession to San Grato Lake in honour of Our Lady of the Snow (Notre Dame des Neiges).
The procession of penance begins in the early morning and takes the faithful to San Grato Lake.

There are references of the procession dating back to 1450, but the solemn promise to dedicate the 5th of August, the day of “Notre Dame des Neiges”, to a procession to the San Grato lake dates back to 1818. On this occasion the faithful prayed the Virgin and San Grato for protection from natural disasters and other catastrophes, as well as a good harvest and favorable conditions for carrying out summer activities in the mountain pastures.

Over the years the itinerary has changed to reach the lake of San Grato. The procession starts from the parish church, towards the hamlet of Bonne, and runs along the Beauregard basin on the orographic left until the entrance to the San Grato valley.
After the Grand’Alpe mass, the procession continues to the Tramouaille pasture and then to the lake for the blessing of the water. The return takes place on the left side of the valley, through the area of ​​Champigny and the Arp Vieille alpine pasture, then descend again to Bonne and finally reach the main village.