What is le jongleur de notre dame?

Le Jongleur de Notre Dame is a French medieval legend about a poor jongleur or minstrel who earns his livelihood by performing in public spaces. One winter day, while seeking alms in front of a church, the jongleur observes the monks who are singing and offering gifts to the Virgin Mary. The jongleur is so touched by their piety that he decides to offer something of his own. However, being poor and uneducated, he finds no other gift to offer than his own talent - singing and juggling before the altar of the Virgin Mary.

Despite the ridicule and opposition of the monks, who consider his performance disrespectful, the jongleur perseveres and continues to sing and juggle before the statue of the Virgin Mary, until he falls asleep on the cold floor in exhaustion. Later, he experiences a miraculous vision of the Virgin Mary, who rewards him with a wreath of roses and promises him eternal salvation for his humble and selfless offering. The legend has been retold in many versions and inspired various works of art, including a play by Anatole France, an opera by Jules Massenet, and a film by Jean-Claude Brialy.