Nearly two years after being ravaged by storm Aline, the Madonna d'Utelle is undergoing its first renovations... which are expected to take longer than expected.

Our Lady has watched over mankind for over a millennium. Now it's mankind's turn to watch over her. Finally. One year and nine months after the matricidal storm Aline shredded 600m2 of its roof, the sanctuary of Utelle—overlooking the valleys of the highlands of Nice at an altitude of 1,200 meters—is beginning to heal under freshly sealed tiles. Hard at work since mid-July, three workers are covering the building, which belongs to the town hall and is attached to the Diocese of Nice, with large sheets of fiber cement. The waterproofing is then reinforced with a row of tiles , all of which will be fitted together by the end of August. But it's still too early to laugh at summer storms. While they blacken the flowerbeds every afternoon, an unpleasant surprise also darkens the site: the old roof did not rest on a frame but directly on the vault... which had a miraculous longevity given the materials used.

Vault too old

Built in 1802 (1) with poor mortar, the humble masonry no longer has the strength to withstand the winds. These gusts, the executioners of the Madonna, reached 140 km/h just a week ago. "To withstand this suction, the roof must be very heavy," says Antoine Madolénat. During a site visit this Thursday, July 31, 2025, the architect recommended the installation of a reinforced concrete slab, eventually covered with a plate and tiles. A ballast of around fifteen tons.

Enough to withstand storms. But what about earthquakes? Won't such a load risk increasing the building's inertia if it's subject to tremors? "It's true that in the region we have a cumulative natural hazard," laughs Jérémie Ramoin. At the head of Nice Charpente, the company in charge of the work, the thirty-year-old is reassuring: "According to the design office, the proposal is on target. In my opinion, it's consistent, because we removed 35 tons of materials and we're going to put more back for roughly the same weight."

"We don't let ourselves be discouraged"

While this technical solution may prove to be a lifesaver for the sanctuary, it extends the timeframe and increases the bill. "That's the nature of unforeseen events, but we won't let ourselves be discouraged," retorts the mayor, Yves Gili (non-partisan). "The new study, the slab, the company's invoice... all of this creates a fair amount of uncertainty. And to think that I was hoping the work would be completed before the end of the summer." The mayor consoles himself by looking beyond the passes, further into the Vésubie. "At the Madone de Fenestre, there has been no track for almost five years because of Storm Alex. Here, in less than two years, the sanctuary will have been watertight." Better late than never.

Dates and prices

October 20, 2023: Storm Aline destroys a large part of the roof

Winter 2023: the tarpaulins installed urgently are in turn torn down

May 2024: After months of exposure to the elements, the sanctuary is partially removed from asbestos and then covered with a tarpaulin for €41,000. Monthly inspections of the installation cost €1,600.

Summer 2025: after months of calls for projects, the Ramoin group is selected for total asbestos removal in June, followed by the installation of plates and tiles between mid-July and the end of August.

The provisional cost is set at 315,000 euros including tax, divided between the Department (104,000 euros), insurance (129,000 euros) and the City (73,000 euros)... which can count on a solid reserve: the Heritage Foundation has collected 98,504 euros.

1. A primitive oratory was built in 850 by Spanish sailors who believed they had been saved from shipwreck by the Virgin Mary. Destroyed during the Revolution, the sanctuary was rebuilt in 1802.

Marble and mold are violently fighting over the damp bowels of the sanctuary, which is closed to the public until further notice. Having remained exposed to the elements all winter, the passageways and the chapel of the Madonna of Utelle have become a giant mushroom farm. Ex-votos, banners, paintings, the organ... everything is soaked. "What a catastrophe," hisses Gérard Biongioanni, through gritted teeth. Mayor of Utelle between 1977 and 1989, he castigates "the administrative delays that prevent an effective response." But it is as parish treasurer that he pities "the abandonment of the premises." He points out that "no exact estimate of the interior damage will be made before the water is sealed off. Afterwards, the costs will have to be divided between the municipality, which owns the walls, and the Diocese, which owns certain furniture and decorations." As the Marian pilgrimage approaches on August 15, he regrets that Mass must once again be held outside. "The air is too stale," he sniffs before opening a door, "just to let some air in. For now, it's the only thing we can do."