Paris1972-Versailles2003

And here I am staying in my belle France with another gem . This time will update for you and me the other monuments of Le Mans which has plenty to see and do. I am choosing one post to tell abou these off the beaten path places ,hoping you enjoy them as I do. Remember, this is in the Sarthe dept 72 of the Pays de la Loire region.

I come back to Le Mans. Well ,this is a very popular city of many popular events. And, I have written plenty on it in my blog. However, as before, I like to bring out the best in each city and after a general  overview come back in details. These are some of the other monuments of Le Mans,maybe not a post on their own but a single post on them is well merited.

The Collegiate Church of Saint-Pierre-la-Cour is the old church dedicated to the counts of Maine whose palace was adjacent. The Collegiate Church now serves various cultural events. It is considered to be one of the five municipal museums of the city of Le Mans. The first Church was first built to prevent the Norman invasions, appearing as early as 865, and safekeeping the relics of Saint Scholastique. Thus the Chapel of St. Peter, located outside the fortifications, is not sufficient to protect the relics. A new St. Peter’s Church was created in the 10C by Count Hugues. It is located between the Saint-Martin and the Comtal Palace. It was restored in 1175 by Henri II Plantagenet, which embellished it with a span and a tower in the north-west. The chorus is lengthened, as a large arch goes as far as the Saint-Martin portal. The choir was finally consecrated only in 1378. During the Hundred Years ‘ War, the Church was fortified on three levels. In 1485, the Romanesque nave is connected to Notre-Dame, underground, by a straight staircase. Five chapels are built in arches around the choir. It is in the 16C that a high roof in the pavilion covers the tower. Many exhibitions are held here today.

The Le Mans tourist office on the collegiate : https://www.lemans-tourisme.com/en/partenaire/view/id/2217/category/18

The Sarthe dept 72 tourist board on the collegiate: https://www.sarthe-tourism.co.uk/patrimoine-culturel/collegiale-saint-pierre-la-cour

The Saint-Benoît Church is in the historic city center. It was built for the first time in the 12C, then rebuilt in the 15C and 16C on Gallo-Romanesque and Merovingian ruins. It was greatly damaged thereafter which led to its reconstruction in 1903. It was reinaugurated in 1910. Its architecture nevertheless brings an original touch because its arrow pierces among the roofs of old Mans, in the crypt of Sainte-Scholastique, we have been able to find old epitaphs and numerous substructions of Merovingian origin. The Church is always rich in statues representative of the golden age of terracotta Mancelle (local Le Mans), proof of the know-how of the potters of the city.

The Le Mans tourist office on the church: https://www.lemans-tourisme.com/fr/architecture-patrimoine/eglise-saint-benoit.html

The Sarthe dept 72 tourist board on the church: https://www.sarthe-tourism.co.uk/patrimoine-culturel/eglise-saint-benoit

The Church of the Visitation is located in the Place de la République central point of the city. The Church once depended on the Convent of the Visitandines, currently located just behind the building. A problem arises as to its name. The history books and the city name the monument Church of the Visitation while the Diocese of Le Mans lists it as the Chapel of the Visitation. The Church was founded in 1634 and depended on its origin from the former convent of the Visitandines. The interior is Regency style with a large central dome spreading its clarity over two short transepts adorned in Louis XV style. The large lantern visible from the outside is a kind of large helmet containing fifteen small bells. It’s plan follows a Latin cross of about 30 by 16 meters, while an 18C style dome rises some 40 meters above the street level. The nave is illuminated by four large windows while it is divided into four large ridge-vaulted bays. The current staircase was built in 1861 in order to suit the three-meters difference that appeared during the piercing of the Rue Gambetta. In 1792, the 33 nuns who remained in the convent were expelled and locked up in the nearby Ursulines ‘ prison. The enclosure and the garden were sold as national property. In 1793, the conventual buildings were transformed into a prison, the guillotine was installed, and in 1797, the civil and criminal courts settled there. If the Church is returned to worship from 1804, the remaining buildings will remain assigned as a court and as a prison until their respective move in 1990 and January 2010 respectively.

The Le Mans tourist office on the church: https://www.lemans-tourisme.com/fr/architecture-patrimoine/eglise-de-la-visitation.html

The Sarthe dept 72 tourist board on the church/chapel: https://www.sarthetourisme.com/patrimoine-culturel/chapelle-de-la-visitation-0

The Notre-Dame de Pré Church was built between the 11C and 12C. The Church is located on the right bank of the Sarthe river, in the heart of the de Pré district. It was raised from the rubble of an ancient oratory built by Saint-Julien while his apostolate lasted. The Gothic vault was added in the 15C. The Church contains a crypt in which the relics of Saint-Julien were found, before being transferred to the Cathedral in 1835. The nave is a alternately round and square pillar with a Romanesque marquee. It was the abbey Church of the Abbey of Saint-Julien-du-Pré, which received Benedictine nuns. At the beginning of the 12C, construction was continued and the abbey was finished, which offered a great homogeneity to the monument. The Church is then entirely in Romanesque style. The stone vaults are added in the 15C . A general restoration in the second half of the 19C was complemented by the addition of a large porch-shaped steeple at the front of the façade. In 1950, Max Ingrand created a cross path and stained glass windows for the Church.

The city of Le Mans tourist office on the church: https://www.lemans-tourisme.com/en/partenaire/view/id/2903/category/12

The Sarthe dept 72 tourist board on the church: https://www.sarthetourisme.com/patrimoine-culturel/eglise-notre-dame-du-pre-0

There you go folks, wonderful beautiful historical architecurally stunning old Le Mans a must to see for all its beauty and fame. The other monuments of Le Mans are worth a detour indeed. Enjoy them, and seek more as the above is just a brief introduction to each of them.

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

ps. I have to add here that wordpress tells me this is my 500 consecutive daily post! wow! and thank you all for coming along!