Once again, taking you back to my beautiful Morbihan dept 56 in my lovely region of Bretagne, and in my belle France. There is so much to see , hopefully will have life to see them all. There is a nice fortified town near me that is just a gem and sort of like an off the beaten path, needless to tell you we come here often . I have told you plenty on the church but again, found me older new pictures to the blog that should be in , me think, Therefore, here is my take on the Basilica Notre Dame du Paradis of Hennebont , part III !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
We are just 28 km or about 17 miles from it along the expressway N165 direction Brest. We parked by the river basin just behind the ramparts or up behind the Basilica each time in town. Another gem of a monument to visit here and walking in town is glorious.
The first stone is laid in 1514 and the unfinished church is consecrated in 1524. The chapel serves as a parish church from 1590. The church is of flamboyant Gothic style, and is noticed by the boldness of its porch and the richness of its ornamentation. The church was elevated to the rank of minor Basilica by Pope Pius X on January 17, 1913. An imposing Basilica Church Notre Dame du Paradis on the now name Place du Maréchal Foch. And my boys !!!
The imposing Bell Tower. high of nearly 65 meters, its location on one of the high points of the city makes it a real sight. The tower is divided into three parts. The base that opens with a vast porch whose elevation is made even more vertiginous by the carved decoration that adorns it. The massive buttresses are lighted by the presence of niches which may have housed statues, and small vegetal sculptures; at the first Gallery level. From the first balustrade, there is the drum that is enclosed the Bell-room, the only room in the building with a chimney, and the belfry with the bells. And finally, all of lace, the arrow itself that will know many times and restorations. Attached to the Bell Tower, the two turrets of stairs one of which no longer exist allow access to the upper parts and still visually lighten the mass of the Bell Tower. The particular color of the granite drawn from the old quarries of Locoyarne gives the Bell Tower a beautiful blond hue especially in the end of the day.
In 1652 an epidemic ravaged the region, and nothing seemed to be able to stop it that the intervention of the Virgin to whom the inhabitants promised a silver statue that would be carried out in procession each year. Hennebont was spared and offered to the Church a silver statue in 1700, which unfortunately was melted in the Mint of Nantes in 1792 ,during the French revolution.. Since a new silver bronze statue made in 1818 replaces it. There is a painting evoking this episode: the vow of 1699, work of 1807 by François-Henri Mulard.. See inside the stained glass by Max Ingrand retracing the great events of the history of Hennebont.
The Basilica Church Notre Dame du Paradis was miraculously spared by the Nazis bombing of 1944, when a large part of the city was destroyed. Due to storm Ciaran, part of the roof of the Basilica collapsed. It therefore remains closed until further notice. Sadly,
The city of Hennebont on its heritage : https://www.hennebont.bzh/categorie-point-d-interet/les-incontournables/
The local Lorient south Brittany tourist office on Hennebont : https://www.lorientbretagnesudtourisme.fr/fr/immanquables/hennebont/
The Bretagne region tourist office on Hennebont : https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/southern-brittany-morbihan-gulf/hennebont/
There you go folks, you have it all now on the Basilica Notre Dame du Paradis ,a great part of the city of Hennebont’s history. Again, hope you have enjoy the post on the Basilica Notre Dame du Paradis of Hennebont , part III !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels , good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 