And back on my local road warrior mode, this time going south to old Brittany in the Loire Atlantique dept 44 of the new Pays de la Loire region. A wonderful coastal trip of my belle France just south of me with plenty of architecture, history, and beaches, Let me tell you about the Church Saint Gilles of Pornic !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The town is part of historic Brittany, in the traditional country of the country of Retz and in the historic country of the Nantes. Located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the city is known for its castle and old port. Pornic is located on the coast of Jade, on the banks of the Baie de Bourgneuf, 45 km from Nantes ,20 km from Saint-Nazaire and 143 km from my house. The Pays de Retz or country of Retz extends to the department of Loire-Atlantique 44. It is one of the traditional countries of Brittany of the Ancien Régime (monarchy), erected as barony then as a duchy. The country of Retz was the stronghold of the different families of the lords of Retz, most of whom were not Breton, and who have followed families since the 11C, The Pays de Retz was one of the main fiefs of Gilles Retz, companion in arms of Jeanne d’Arc and Maréchal de France. It was also the stronghold of the Gondi family, of Italian origin, located in France under the regency of Catherine de Médicis in the 16C, and for whom it became duchy. It was still one of the main places of deployment of the Vendée wars during the French revolution. The country of Retz is currently made up of 40 towns, therefore, Villeneuve-en-Retz, composed of the old town of Bourgneuf-en-Retz, itself encompassing the ancient village of Saint-Cyr-en-Retz, and the old town of Fresnay-en-Retz, Also, La Bernerie en Retz, Pornic and Préfailles,(see posts).
The Saint-Gilles Church is very nice indeed, It was from the 10C, that a first medieval church was built in Pornic, a second will be built in the late 14C under the patronage of Saint Gilles. The current church dates from the second half of the 19C. If the work was started in 1864, it was only fully completed until 1875 by the construction of the bell tower. The church is in a Roman style with the square dominated by the stone bell tower: a massive tower crowned by an arrow covered with white stones. The entire church is surrounded by buttercuts that resemble Gothic style , The devotion of the Templars for Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, one of the high places of pilgrimage of medieval Christianity, would probably explain this choice of patronage because the Templars had goods in Pornic. In the old church would have been found fragments of tombstones decorated with the cross of this hospital and military order. The current church was completed in 1871, but it was not until 1875 that the sound of the three new bells was heard. See the two representations of the patron saint: one outside the church, carved above the entrance porch, the other inside on a stained glass window. The forecourt is made up of the staircase leading to the entrance porch. Above the latter, you can see the sculpted tympanum, representing the character of Saint Gilles. It is surprising that on this tympanum the doe is pierced by an arrow. Indeed, according to legend, it was Saint Gilles who received the arrow in the place of the animal by protecting it.
Inside the Saint Gilles Church, you will notice on the left, at the bottom of the church, the baptistery. Present in the old church, the baptismal font date at least 1837. They are in pink marble with a remarkable carved oak cover. Nearby, a painting of the Assumption of the Virgin painted in 1868 by Joséphine Houssay, on behalf of the State, in response to a request from the parish of Pornic to have a work for its new church in construction. It is a copy of a famous painting by Pierre-Paul Prud’hon from 1819, kept at the Louvre. The statue of the Virgin and Child, located to the right of the choir. This sculpture, called « Bourguignonne » or Burgundian, date of the first half of the 15C. It is attributed to the workshop of the sculptor Claus de Werve , it was present in the old medieval church. A Christ, installed in the choir, is an exact copy of an 15C polychrome Christ, a work of the community of the sisters of Bethlehem.
The high altar is in Chauvigny stone, like the two angels of the lateral altars. The sculptures represent, on the one hand, the four evangelists symbolized by the winged man, the bull, the lion and the eagle. On the other side, these are two scenes from the Old Testament framing the crossing of Christ. Finally, to be noted on the cutter of the two central columns of the gallery, two characters with musical instruments, representing King David on one side and on the other Saint Cécile. The stained glass windows of the choir are to be linked to the religious history of Pornic, On the left, the stained glass represents Saint Gilles with a doe, and Saint Clément, third pope, patron of the boatmen; In the center, it represents the old Notre-Dame de Recouvrance chapel; and on the right Saint André, apostle of Jesus and Saint Anne, in memory of two ancient chapels of Pornic.
It was around the middle of the 7C, in Athens, that Saint Gilles was born . A worked by miracles, but fleeing the fame, he leaves his homeland and settled in Provence, where he lives as a hermit in a forest south of Nîmes, with a doe for any pet. According to legend, the doe, pursued by hunters, comes to take refuge at its feet, while an arrow, pulled by a Visigoth king, lacks the animal and hurts the saint in hand. To be forgiven, the king agrees to build an abbey of which Gilles becomes the first abbot, giving birth to the town of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard. Saint-Gilles is celebrated on September 1, day of his death, is invoked as protector of seafarers, cultivators and shepherds. It is often represented with a doe on the head of which rests his injured hand.
The City of Pornic on the Church Saint Gilles : https://www.pornic.com/eglise-saint-gilles-1.html
The town of Pornic on its heritage : https://www.pornic.fr/vivre-a-pornic/cadre-de-vie/patrimoine/
There you go folks, a short but pleasant trip to the beautiful old Bretagne, that is Loire Atlantique dept 44. The sea at its best, nice monuments, and pleasant road warrior driving were all that was needed, we have been back !!!! Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Church Saint Gilles of Pornic as I.
And remember happy travels, good health,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 