"The Madonna who healed a king and now watches over a place of reconciliation"
Our Lady of Peace
Paris, Île-de-France, France
Notre-Dame de la Paix—Our Lady of Peace—healed the young Louis XIV in 1658 and became one of Paris's most venerated Madonnas. Hidden during the Revolution, she now resides at Picpus, presiding over the chapel where prayers rise for both the guillotine's victims and their executioners. Her title names what she offers: peace.
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Quick Facts
Location
Paris, Île-de-France, France
Tradition
Site Type
Coordinates
48.8440, 2.4001
Last Updated
Jan 20, 2026
A widower brought the statue from Languedoc to Paris. War made her a Madonna of Peace. A king's healing made her famous. Revolution forced her into hiding. Now she presides over Picpus, where her ancient gift of peace serves a ministry of reconciliation.
Origin Story
At the end of the sixteenth century, a widower from Languedoc who had decided to end his days among the Capuchin monks in Paris brought the statue as a gift to the convent. Devotion grew during the Thirty Years' War, when Parisians sought peace from the Madonna.
In 1658, Louis XIV—still a young man—fell dangerously ill. His mother Anne of Austria prayed before this statue. The king recovered. The healing was attributed to Notre-Dame de la Paix; her reputation spread throughout France.
The Revolution dissolved the Capuchin convent. A friar hid the statue, saving it from destruction. Eventually it passed through several hands before being given to the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts, who installed it at Picpus on May 6, 1806. Here it has remained, presiding over the chapel that serves both as parish and memorial.
Key Figures
King Louis XIV
Healed by her intercession
Anne of Austria
Louis XIV's mother
Spiritual Lineage
The statue is now cared for by the Sisters of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who have maintained the Picpus site since 1802. They regard Our Lady of Peace as the protector of their congregation.
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