The museum at the Sanctuary is worth a visit, for it shows the rich history of Betharram.
| In the first room an array of paintings draws the attention; among these is a portrait of the founder of Calvary, Henri Charpentier (1565-1650). It is a painting of the great century, worthy of an original, which relates how the image of Our Lady was found by the shepherds; there are works by Joseph Castaing and Rene-Marie Castaing, 19th century artists from Bearn. In the middle is a collection of fine books and artistic bindings.
The great 17th century fireplace above which is a fresco, has been recently restored.
In the second room is a collection of objects which have been classified by the Beaux Arts because of their artistic or historical interest: paintings, engravings, sculptures. There is also a display of ex-votos and coins, as well as many souvenirs brought back by the missionaries (lace from Paraguay, mother-of-pearl from Palestine, Chinese objects from Yunnan, etc)
In the last room there is a permanent display of rocks, minerals, fossils and other items of interest from the science exhibition room at Notre Dame School. |
Artworks
