The chapel and spring of the same name still stand on the ruined site of the former Chêne farm (near Poinson-Lès-Nogent). Tradition has it that a statue of the Virgin Mary was found in an oak tree. Following this prodigy, hermits settled here and the first chapel was built in the 12th century. The hermits lived there until the 17th century, when the chapel was bequeathed to the Discalced Carmelites. Subsequently neglected, the chapel was demolished in 1786 or 1788, in a very poor state of repair. However, the statue of Notre Dame du Chêne was saved. It is said to have been placed in the Church of Dampierre, but returned to the chapel on several occasions. In the 19th century, the chapel was replaced by a small oratory. A stone from the old chapel was inlaid in the gable wall. It bears this dedication: "Cy l'amour de Notre-Dame du Chêne est en ton coeur grand, passant n'oublie la". Shrouded in legend, this chapel, rebuilt in 1844, is the site of an annual pilgrimage in September.
Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Chêne de Dampierre
