Paris1972-Versailles2003

We have come quite often to Nantes, a City that needs to be visited more by all. A wonderful historical city with many monuments to see, many wonderful properties. I was again on my local road warrior mode and as bit not back, decided to give it a refresher to this must to visit City of Nantes, Loire-Atlantique dept 44 of the Pays de la Loire region,in my belle France ; even if old Bretagne! Do read my previous posts on the city as well, For now let me tell you about the wonderful Church Sainte Croix , part II !! Hope you enjoy the post as I

The Church Sainte Croix is located at Place Sainte Croix and was built in the 17C in the classical style and then modified in the 19C. The church is located in the district of Bouffay, of which it is the church since 1138.  On the side of the church there is a passarelle to the Holy Cross passage. The parish register, on the date of February 8, 1828, bears the transcript ofJules Verne’s birth and baptism certificate.

The altar of the right nave is the only surviving altar of the 17C. The Louis XV-style pulpit is made of solid mahogany and a wrought iron ramp. The stalls date back to the 18C. The master altar, in white marble and gilded wood, was consecrated in 1844. The Sainte-Table, in white marble, is dated 1903.  The original organ, dated 1853, was restored and modified several times since, the last intervention dating from 1979.  The windows of the Choir were destroyed during the bombardment of  WWII, and remade in 1947. There is a nice stained glass window of the Tribune, dated 1872, which represents the triumph of the Cross.

I will give you more of this wonderful Church Sainte Croix by translating (condense) best possible from the parish site and the brochures I picked up there !

The well-established history of Church Sainte-Croix begins in the 11C, with the charter that entrusted this church to the Benedictines of Marmoutier-les-Tours. The location of the lateral naves was used as a parish cemetery, and the current choir was a vacant lot. The Benedictines ceased to occupy the priory of Sainte-Croix, in the 17C, around 1620, but they kept the property, In the 17C most of the current church was built. In 1669, the part of the church was then raised resolutely to build the current side altars to the gallery; At the central nave, which is roughly occupying the site of the church of the 12C, the two bass-nefs were added, taken on the field of the cemetery in the north and south. The church ended, in the east, with a right wall, to which the high altar was backed, as are the secondary altars of the Virgin and Saint-Joseph until now.

The majestic facade that has been completed in the 19C, As early as 1685, the construction of the facade was undertaken. Temple dedicated to the Sainte Croix or Holy Cross with protruding bases for the statues of the painful Virgin and Saint Madeleine. All this is only dating from the 19C. On the other hand, the eye-of-the-edge which pierced the pediment existed in 1686; It was only embellished with busty garlands. In 1860. At that time, the priest Mr. Guilbaud was resolved to style this facade of a campanile which would wear the city belfry, a huge square tower continues the 18C facade : It was naturally adopted, in this third floor, the Corinthian order with its acanthus leaf capitals; A large curly window repeats the window of the second floor; Niches are found in the flat surfaces; The exterior pilasters wear funeral urns with flame; A third entablature overcomes the whole, whose frieze is very excavated under the cornice which looks at the west. This is the campanile where the bells swing. The clock room allows dials to face the four cardinal points. For each of them, an archivolt decorated with roses, and posed on ionic pillars, forms a most attractive framework. The whole thing balances to perfection and forms an enclosure for the belfry. The belfry arises very naturally on the central tower; above the watched iron support, the angels blow hard in their trumpets to carry the sounds hammered by the clock in the distance. It is the Sainte-Croix Church. Magnificent home to house the old Bouffay bell of 1663, the largest bells in Nantes, because it weighs 8,096 kilos. In the upper niches, four prophets are constantly custody, they are the four main heralds of the passion of Christ: in the west, David and Daniel; To the north, Jeremiah, and, to the south, Isaiah. In addition, under the western dial, two characters are half lying down, as in the tomb of Julien de Médicis; But these are neither the day nor the night here; We recognize the faith that holds the cross and the charity that rocks a child. As it is, this facade of Sainte-Croix is one of the architectural marvels of Nantes which are the most perfect. Let us add that the two niches on the ground floor were intended to receive statues at the foot; The busts of Saint Peter and Saint André, the two crucified apostles were placed on unexpected bases.

The Choir of Sainte-Croix Church in flamboyant style that had been used for the nave in 1669. However, it would take this style during its beautiful period of the 15C, Three vault spans succeeded, one above the eastern end of the old nave, the other two housing the new choir. Each span is divided by two full slots which cut themselves diagonally: it is the arcs-protes; Furthermore, the key escape the ivy which duplicate in tiercerons. Thus sustained, each vault is subdivided into twelve vaults almost of equal surface. The windows, also draws flames according to the style adopted we see, as formerly, the Virgin and Saint John who were the main assistants of Calvary; Saint Hélène who discovered the wood of the Cross and Saint Saturnin whose church almost touched that of Sainte-Croix , We also put Saint Michel there, holder of the chapel of the Château du Bouffay, and finally Saint Roch who was so invoked in the old-way old hospital.

The official Catholic parish of Notre Dame on the Church Sainte Croix : https://notredamedenantes.com/leglise-sainte-croix/

The Nantes tourist office on the passage of Sainte Croix next to church : https://www.levoyageanantes.fr/en/places/sainte-croix-passageway/

ps.This past Sunday, February 18, 2024 nearly 500 of traditionalist Catholics left shortly after 16h from the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Port to carry out a way of the cross in the streets of Nantes, at the call of the Sacerdotal fraternity of Saint-Pie X. The procession, which organizes this Cross Stations on the occasion of the first Sunday of Lent, joined the Sainte-Croix Church at 18h,

There you go folks, do visit Nantes ,and its wonderful monuments, A must to visit while in the city ; see the memorable Church Sainte Croix, part II !! Again, hope you enjoy this post as I.

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