The stations of the Cross in the Basilica of Sainte Anne d’Auray !!!

Posted in Bretagne, Europe, France

Going right along with the richness of history and devotion in my lovely Bretagne we come to Sainte Anne d’Auray again. Of course been only 9 km from our house this is our routine route even to go to Vannes our capital city. My sons change bus here to go to school in the area so needless to say we know the town well.

Well, is a small town and totally devoted to Sainte Anne, the Saint mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus! Also ,the patron Saint of Bretagne/Brittany. Where the Bretons call her grandma! Everywhere you go in town there is the presence of Sainte Anne. I like to tell you another great work now partially displayed but will soon be the stations of the Cross in the Basilica of Sainte Anne d’Auray !!! 14 stations of the Cross will be completed soon.

I was there as the Pardon of Sainte Anne was been carried on 26 July 2020, and took the opportunity to go out of the house back for a visit.  There are five bronze high reliefs placed in the aisles of the Cloister before being installed on the walls. The nine others will join them by the end of 2021. A unique heritage in France, even in Europe. The photos are from no 1 to no 5.

sainte anne d auray

Five bronzes are making a big comeback in the cloister of the basilica. In total, the Stations of the Cross are represented by fourteen stations, each weighing between 800 kg and 1.2 tons, depending on the number of characters who appear there.

sainte anne d auray bas ste anne cloister II Jesus takes poss of the Cross jul20

A work of goldsmith and meticulousness entrusted to Olivier Vilhem, Companion of Duty and Meilleur Ouvrier de France for the quality of his work in metalwork. They had been forgotten at the edge of a field. The fourteen stations, exposed to bad weather for twenty years, arrived in Cholet very degraded and pitted by rust. It is in La Séguinière, near Cholet (Maine-et-Loire no 49) that they were brought back to life.

sainte anne d auray bas ste anne cloister III Jesus felled under the weight of the Cross jul20

The Stations of the Cross were made between 1900 and 1904 by Pierre Rouillard, sculptor from Angers, and by Gaston Chapal, owner of the Kerloc foundries in Auray. The realization of these Stations of the Cross extended over a long period, from 1913 to 1945.

sainte anne d auray

This Stations of the Cross was made concrete thanks to donations from the faithful and the Congregation of Saint Anne. In this bronze form, it is the largest Stations of the Cross in France, even in Europe. The nine other stations are being restored. They are expected to join their neighbors by the end of 2021.

sainte anne d auray bas ste anne cloister V st simon help Christ carry the cross jul20

The official sanctuary of the Basilica minor of Sainte Anne: https://www.sainteanne-sanctuaire.com/

The local Bay of Quiberon tourist office on the Basilica Sainte Anne: https://www.baiedequiberon.co.uk/the-sanctuary-of-sainte-anne-d-auray

The official Sanctuaries towns of France on the Basilica Sainte Anne: https://www.villes-sanctuaires.com/villes-sanctuaires/sainte-anne-dauray/infos-pratiques

Again, hope to enjoy this wonderful restoration for the world to see. I can’t wait for the other nine!!! They are gorgeous and very nice inspired in a prophetic place, the Cloister of the Basilica minor of Sainte Anne Again, hope you enjoy this post on the stations of the Cross in the Basilica of Sainte Anne d’Auray !!! as I.

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

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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