Sainte-Foy Abbey in Conques has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998 and counts among the most important pilgrimage sites in France. Even in the Middle Ages, it attracted thousands of pilgrims wishing to be close to the relics of Saint Faith – sainte Foy in French – every year. The mortal remains of saints were believed to have special powers in those days. As a church’s most treasured possession, they were protected and adorned by being wrapped in fine silks. Thanks to the cult of relics, several early medieval textiles have been preserved in the church treasury of Conques. In 2019 these were entrusted to the Abegg-Stiftung for conservation/restoration. Press Release