Browse Black Madonnas
London, St. Dunstan-in-the-West
In 2019, Sarah Bisby, a member of an internet chat group called “Reflecting the Black Madonna”, discovered this fascinating Black Madonna in the heart of London and brought it to my attention…
Penrhys, Wales
I don’t know if the original statue of Our Lady of Penrhys was a Black Madonna, but it is likely since she shares many Black Madonna characteristics…
Walsingham, Norfolk
Although Our Lady of Walsingham is not generally referred to as a Black Madonna and her modern reincarnations look rather pale, I am listing her in this index…
Anjony, France
Since nothing is related of her origin and she shares the geometric pattern of the robes of the much more famous Black Madonna of Le-Puy…
Bar-sur-Seine
Although Our Lady of the Oak is not actually called a Black Madonna, I include her in this index for two reasons…
Boulogne-sur-Mer
The Black Madonna of Boulogne-sur-mer miraculously appeared alone in a boat in 633 A.D. in France’s most important fishing harbor since Roman times. She has been stolen, mutilated, dragged through the mud, and burnt at the stake by the enemies of France and Catholicism, but she was always brought back to life by the devotion of her children.
Chatillon-sur-Seine
Although neither town, nor church, nor statue are beautiful, this plain, formerly Black Madonna became one of the most influential ones in Europe…
Clermont-Ferrand
Our Lady of the Good Death received her pitch-black coat of paint around 1830, but since she is an ancient Madonna she must have been quite dark already before that…
Clermont-Ferrand II
Many pilgrims came to the church in the Middle Ages to view the statue. Ean Begg mentions an ancient sacred well in the crypt and writes: "The present Virgin, an Oriental Vierge de Tendresse…
Dijon
The brown Lady of Good Hope was painted black in the 1500’s likely in order to gain power and prestige and draw more visitors to the city. It worked! She promptly responded with the sort of miracles Black Madonnas are famous for: chasing off foreign armies and such. Sadly in 1963 she was stripped of her dark paint and Black Madonna title. No more miracles have been recorded since then. Serves them right!
Douvres-la-Délivrande
Douvres-la-Délivrande is a small town of little more than 5000 inhabitants named for its Black Madonna…
Egliseneuve d'Entraigues
This Black Madonna's sacred water reputedly heals depression, languor, and apathy. It certainly lifted the spirits of our little group immediately…