As said we love to walk, once in town of course. And doing this we like to expand our horizons and go to off the beaten path areas where not many venture to go. The finds are amazing to say the least. Saint Malo was no different, let your feet do the tell all! We wanted to walk past new sites as Saint Malo has plenty, and found the church, rue Abbé Huchet at Rocabey district. Therefore, here is my take on the Church Notre Dame des Gréves of Saint Malo !! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Notre-Dame-des-Grèves Church,19C is in the center of the Rocabey district of Saint-Malo, 400 meters from the train station, towards the sea. A lovely find indeed, Plenty of history and architecture It was built on the dry sea wall of Rocabey, below sea level, is the dream come true of parish priest Jean François Huchet (street name after him).
The granite walls adorned with two square towers make the building imposing. The interior, quite modern, is sober and bright with large and beautiful colored stained-glass windows. The construction of the nave began in 1872 ,and was completed in 1937 with the final transept and the choir, It is in the Latin cross plan, ribbed vaults for the nave, broken barrel vault for the choir, porch bell tower, flat apse. Neo-Gothic style.
It is opposite the war memorial on Place Rocabey. The interior is quite sober and modern. You can admire the Stations of the Cross, the choir with its organs, the two large square towers.
In 1860, every morning after his meditation and before Mass, the priest Jean-François Huchet, nicknamed “The Grand Cure” (great priest), took a walk on the ramparts of the old town (intra muros). It was on the occasion of the inauguration of the train station, on June 27, 1864, that he publicly announced, to the general astonishment, his wish to see not a simple chapel, but a real parish, with its rights, privileges and advantages.
The story goes that on May 1, 1867, the mayor, after a declaration of public utility, undertook to acquire from the State a plot of 1.41 ha forming part of the dry shore of Rocabey to build a church there with a presbytery, a school house and an asylum room, A simple nave closed at each end and the church was handed over to worship in 1872. In June 1937, the expansion work began which, despite some ups and downs , allowed the consecration, on October 15, 1938, of the Church Notre Dame des Gréves as we know it today. Nice story me think.
The parish of Saint Malo on the Church ND des Gréves: https://www.paroisses-saintmalo.fr/eglise-notre-dame-des-greves/
The Saint Malo tourist office on the Church ND des Gréves: https://www.saint-malo-tourisme.com/offres/eglise-notre-dame-des-greves-saint-malo-fr-3645744/
And voilà! another dandy find in lovely Saint Malo, just walk about 1,2 km from the intra muros place Chateaubriand along the quai Duguay-Trouin thenn right on voie de la Liberté past the post office building turn left on Blvd de la Tour d’Auvergne, and the church is right ahead on your right. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Church Notre Dame des Grèves of Saint Malo !! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
