Larchant
Larchant is a village in the Seine-et-Marne department, Île-de-France, about 34 km from Melun and 19 km from Fontainebleau. Known for its historical and spiritual significance, Larchant is home to numerous prehistoric caves with ancient paintings, and its roots as a sacred site date back to pre-Christian times. It was likely a place of Celtic worship dedicated to water, later abandoned during the third-century invasions.
By the late third century, Larchant became tied to Christianity, particularly with the legendary Saint Mathurin, born here in the late third century. Saint Mathurin, known for performing exorcisms and healing miracles in Rome, became central to local and widespread devotion. His burial site in Larchant grew into an important pilgrimage destination, reaching its peak during the Middle Ages. Numerous French kings, including Charles IV, Louis XI, and Henri IV, visited to seek his intercession for the mentally ill and possessed.
The village’s historical trajectory shifted around the year 1000 when Elisabeth Le Riche gifted Larchant to the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral Chapter, which maintained control until the French Revolution. The Chapter supported the pilgrimage, using donations to support Notre-Dame’s clergy and helping to establish Larchant’s massive pilgrimage church.
Although the pilgrimage declined after the Revolution, a revived tradition continues today, with an annual Pentecost ceremony honoring Saint Mathurin, preserving Larchant's spiritual and historical heritage.