Paris1972-Versailles2003

And I could not be far from these monuments of faith that expresses the feeling of a great tradition and enormous architecture. This again was the case in Cholet, in the Maine et Loire dept 49 in the Pays de la Loire region and in my belle France.

I have written before on one of these religious monuments in Cholet , see my post on Notre Dame. This time let me tell you a bit more on the Church of the Sacré-Cœur !

The Church of the Sacré-Cœur or Sacred Heart, Romano-Byzantine style, the first stone was laid in 1937 and the church blessed in 1941. The materials used for the construction are extracted from the region. This church is due to the generosity of hundreds of known and unknown donors. The chime of 39 bells dates only from the construction of the Sacred Heart, completed during the last world war but has deteriorated due to lack of maintenance and bell ringer. On March 30, 2011, the bells and the keyboard of the carillon came down from the bell tower for restoration. The restored carillon in Holland sounded again on September 17, 2011 during the heritage days. It is located at 25 Boulevard Guy Chouteau, and was our first stop on this trip with easy on street parking in front.

The Church of the Sacred Heart has the distinction of being built with reinforced concrete dressed with local materials such as brick, shale orange called Pierre de Pineau, pink granite from Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges and blue granite from Vezins. Part of the cement used is said to have been mysteriously diverted from the stocks planned for the construction of the Atlantic Wall!

Several artists participated in the exterior and interior decoration of the church: The Parisian artist Charles Maillard, for modeling the sculptures, Fernand Dupré as a Cholet practitioner, Charles Mauméjean for the mosaics and stained glass windows and Henri Genévrier, known under the pseudonym of Grand ‘Aigle (great eagle) artist withdrawn to Cholet during the occupation. This one carries out the decorations and murals of the baptistery of the central door as well as the panels near the confessionals. Regarding the masterpiece of the large interior fresco, Élie Chamard said that the theme had been set by Father Cesbron, future parish priest of this new parish: “When I am raised from the ground, I will attract everything to me!”

You can notice a particular sculpture: the altar of Saint Joseph, all in wood and in the shape of a workbench, in reference to the carpenter profession of the father of Jesus. On this same altar, the candles are also made of wood, just like the candlesticks, in the shape of wood planes.

The parish of Sacre Coeur in French: Catholic Cholet on the parish of the Sacre Coeur

The Cholet tourist office on visiting the Church of the Sacre Coeur in French: Cholet tourist office on Sacre Coeur

As we arrived there were construction workers doing some renovation on the right side of the Church of the Sacre Coeur and we could not go in, however, it is marked here as the exteriors we will be back for the interiors. Worth the detour, hope you enjoy it.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

And I could not be far from these monuments of faith that expresses the feeling of a great tradition and enormous architecture. This again was the case in Cholet, in the Maine et Loire dept 49 in the Pays de la Loire region and in my belle France.

I have written before on one of these religious monuments in Cholet , see my post on Notre Dame. This time let me tell you a bit more on the Convent of Saint François d’Assise.

The order had returned to France in 1949 after being driven out during the French revolution. Today ,they are about twenty religious, whose average age is rather young. They are present in addition to Cholet ,in  Lourdes (Couvent Saint Maximilien Kolbe), in Narbonne (Couvent Saint-Bonaventure), and in Tarbes (Couvent Saint-Antoine). In 2012, they have redesigned the Convent of Brussels in Belgium (Couvent St Antoine).

The Convent of Saint-François-d’Assise has been welcoming folks since 2002, in the old Carmel of Cholet founded in 1885 by Mother Marie de La Croix, a community of Franciscans belonging to the Custody of Saint-Bonaventure in France. One can admire in the choir of the chapel of the convent, an Annunciation by the artist Maurice Denis dating from 1930. The convent is located at 57 Rue Pasteur, however, you can come by car as we came by 39 Rue Paul Bouyx which is the back door.

The official webpage of the convent of St François d’Assise in Cholet in French: Convent of St François d’Assise in Cholet

The above webpage leads you to several others related sites for more information. This is of course, an off the beaten path trip but worth the detour if you are into history which is the only reason I am posting it. Hope it helps in the wonderful walks of Cholet.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

And I move on in wonderful Cholet in the dept 49 Maine et Loire of the region of Pays de la Loire. As any town in my belle France, there are wonderful museums all over. You need to come out into the mouvable feast of my belle France to see them. Here in wonderful Cholet there is one very nice and with great history to tell.

Let me tell you a bit more on the Musée d’Arts et d’Histoire or Museum of Arts and History of Cholet.

In the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire or museum of art and history, the history gallery is largely devoted to the wars of Vendée, with in particular the series of full-length portraits of counter-revolutionary generals whose installation was in Cholet. The art gallery includes works by the painter Pierre Charles Trémolières, a native of Cholet, as well as a collection of contemporary art. It is located at 27 Avenue de l’Abreuvoir.

In 1977, the city of Cholet decided to create a history museum and, in 1979, an art museum. The two places merged in 1993 into a new building, the Museum of Art and History. The art gallery allows you to discover works from the 18C and 19C, illustrating different themes such as mythological, religious, landscapes and portraits of famous painters.

Modern and contemporary art from the 20C is represented with Cubist works. Regional artists are also present. The history gallery essentially relates the Wars of Vendée which, from 1793 to 1796, opposed the Catholic and Royal armies to the Republican forces, in the region of Mauges and Vendée, in particular the battle of Cholet of October 17, 1793 and the Virée de Galerne. A number of historical figures from this period are presented, such as Jacques Cathelineau, Louis de Salgues de Lescure, Henri de La Rochejaquelein, François Athanase Charette de La Contrie and Charles de Bonchamps. Finally are also exposed a set of objects such as trinkets, tables, documents of the times having belonged to the Duchess of Berry.

A wonderful building in a very nice area of Cholet great for walks and do cross the bridge from the Jardin du Mail (see post) to the museum over the avenue de l’Abreuvoir.And at the same time, learn a lot on the history of France from official sources not link to the government which after all never tell the truth.

The city of Cholet on the  musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Cholet: City of Cholet on museum of art and history

The Cholet tourist office on the musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Cholet: Cholet tourist office on the museum of Art and History

And there you go a nice way to visit Cholet and indulge in wonderful history. Hope you enjoy the post and do visit the Museum of Art and History of Cholet. 

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!