Mystère de Sainte-Reine

THE village of Alise-Sainte-Reine is set on the hillside of Mont Auxois in the Cote d'Or.

It takes its name from a beautiful, young, Christian woman, Reine d'Alise, who, in 252 AD, was beheaded after spurning the advances of the Roman governor, Olibrius and not denying her Christian faith.

The legend surrounding the story asserts that, following the execution, a spring started to gush from the place where the young woman's head fell.

On Mont Auxois the basilique Sainte-Reine, which has been the object of an archaeological search, dates from the 7th century and was undoubtedly the resting place of Alise- Sainte-Reine’s relics until they were transferred to Flavigny sur Ozerain in 866.

Each year since 866, on the first Sunday of September, the inhabitants of Alise-Sainte-Reine have performed a mystery play Mystère de Sainte-Reine; this year to be performed on September 1 at 8pm at the Théâtre des roches.

The Mystère involves an historic procession, religious celebrations and a play, written in 1877, by Jean-Baptise Etourneau, which has a cast of around 80 actors.

On the Sunday, a procession leaves the Trois Ormeaux, the place where the encounter between Olibrius and Sainte-Reine took place, at 9.30am for a mass and then a second performance of the mystery play takes place at 3pm.

The hospital Sainte-Reine d’Alise attracts many people interested in architecture. The 17th century buildings surround the main courtyard. The construction of the hospital, one of the jewels of the region, was thanks to the good will of Louis 14th with the influence of the Queen Mother Anne of Austria and that of Saint Vincent de Paul.

The chapel houses a series of tapestries, classified as historical monuments, retrace the life and agonising death of Sainte-Reine. The former dormitory of the sisters houses the apothecary which accommodates a collection of 17th and 18th century earthenware jars.

Visits to the hospital and chapel are organised by l’Association Desnoyers-Blondel, founded in 1992, to promote and safeguard the historic heritage of l'hôpital Sainte-Reine d'Alise.

Email for more information. Telephone 03.80.96.89.13 or 03.80.96.86.55