The association « Amis de Centeilles » is dedicated to preserving the church of Notre Dame de Centeilles, its environment, as well as its development and its spiritual and cultural animation..
Some of our activities
Since its classification in 1958, the chapel is regularly maintained by the association, in particular with the help of the DRAC. The murals require constant surveillance. They have already been the object of several interventions to maintain their integrity.
The association takes to heart the maintenance of a religious life: at least 2 masses are celebrated each year, in May for the feast of rogations and in August for the annual meeting of the association. The evocation of religious themes is inseparable from the visit of the chapel.
For more than 20 years, at the beginning of July, a conference brings us together in the evening. The subjects dealt with concern the history and the history of art of antiquity and the Middle Ages, mainly. Occasionally, other subjects are treated.
The acoustics of the chapel being excellent, we are pleased to welcome vocal groups and classical music ensembles. In particular, several times a year, Professor Jerome Lejeune of Liège records baroque music for the Ricecar label, using ancient instruments.
The surroundings of the chapel are rich in vestiges of the ancient agricultural and pastoral life: plots of land surrounded by low dry stone walls and capitelles that one discovers while walking through the scrubland. Not far away are the remains of the Visigothic church of Saint André and that of the peak Saint Martin. It is also worth mentioning that many dolmens can be found in the communes of Siran and La Livinière. Some members of the association have made an exhaustive inventory of them. The discovery of these dolmens is always fascinating.
The chapel is located in the middle of the Cru La Livinière appellation area. We occasionally participate in wine events organized by the Cru syndicate or neighboring wine growers.
On the Sunday after August 15, the annual meeting of the members of the association and its sympathizers takes place: the mass is followed by a festive meal. A tombola is the occasion to collect funds to support our activity. On Sunday afternoons we are happy to welcome visitors and comment on the murals. Groups are also welcome during the week by appointment. We are planning to create a literary trail in homage to the Occitan poet Léon Cordes, a native of Siran. Theme: La Respelido de Centelhas.
