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SOS Calvaires: France's leading wayside calvary restoration organisation

The S.O.S. Calvaires association, governed by the Law of July 1, 1901, and recognised as being of general interest, aims to bring together all those interested in preserving the calvaries, oratories, and chapels that make up our heritage, to restore and maintain them.

Our History

1987: Founding of the Association

On January 21, 1987, Maurice Chetanneau founded the Association of Friends of the Chapels and Calvaries of the Lion-d'Angers Region. It is a simple local association operating within a 20 km radius of the town of Lion-d'Angers. It restores calvaries, oratories, chapels, and fountains.

Old logo

2014: Resumption and new life

Mr. Chetanneau asked Paul Ramé to take over the association, before passing away two years later. Paul was a business owner and a trained carpenter.

2019: A new name

Julien Le Page, a longtime friend of Paul Ramé, took over as president of the association. With a young and dynamic team, they set themselves a challenge: to restore one calvary per month. New name, new objectives: the association became S.O.S CALVAIRES.

New logo

2021: S.O.S Calvaires in France: the big boom!

Thanks to an effective communications strategy, the association soon became known throughout France. National expansion, the opening of regional branches, and the first hires... growth was phenomenal! This was also the year Les Consolatrices was founded, a parallel branch to Les Bâtisseurs. Les Consolatrices is responsible for saving, repairing, and restoring abandoned crucifixes.

2022: Our first employees

The organization's growth is so rapid that three employees will now work full-time for the association. We even go to Armenia to install a khachkar for our first international project.

2024: Constantly evolving, expanding internationally

Our first location is too small, so we move to a new workshop that's three times larger. Three more employees join the team, relieving the workshop of cross production and communications. The creation of regional managers relieves the office of managing our 90 departmental branches. Calls are constantly increasing and are crossing borders. We are being asked to establish branches in Belgium, Spain, Ireland, and even Brazil and Mexico! Diversification of centers and rescue of stone and cast iron crosses destined for destruction... there is work everywhere! Our Consolatrices are becoming more professional and are beginning to restore all domestic religious heritage (crucifixes, statuettes, rosaries, holy water fonts, etc.)

Vital work 

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Their very watchable YouTube channel

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