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 Notre Dame de Bon Port of Villeneuve en Retz !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The town of Villeneuve-en-Retz has been, since January 1, 2016, a new French town born from the merger of the towns of Bourgneuf-en-Retz and Fresnay-en-Retz. Originally the town of Bourgneuf is itself, the new town of the parish of Saint-Cyr-en Retz. For a long time, the history of these three villages has been linked to the importance of proximity to the sea, the bay of Bourgneuf and the city of Nantes. So places might seems from the same town today,but they are in different villages apart,Therefore, the main town is 16 km from Pornic, 53 km from Nantes, and 153 km from my house.
The Church Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Port was the first church in the city dating from the 13C, since Gaufridus, bishop of Nantes, stopped there in 1210. dedicated to the Virgin Mary, then to Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Port, this church was rebuilt in the 19C. Located at the site of a church founded in 1458 by René de Rais (or Retz), lord of Bourgneuf-en-Retz, this church succeeded a sanctuary dating from 1684, It has remarkable granite pillars with stone capitals, its altar and its tabernacle in Carrera marble, In 1681, the church was in pitiful state and the Catholics claim a new church, king Louis XIV then decides to participate in its reconstruction and finances the works. Even today, you can observe a engraved stone, located near the side door, which bears the date of 1684. But in 1793, the church was destroyed by the Republicans (French revolution) for the sole reason that the priest refuses to take an oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (they had an oath to God). The black marble altar dates from 1717 and comes from the old church of Bourgneuf-en-Retz. Closed in 1791, the church was destroyed in 1794 by republican troops (revolutionaries).Rebuilt in 1803, in the neo-Gothic style ;it was the subject of a perfect renovation during its bicentenary in 2003.
The Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Port Church is also distinguished by the Baptismal Fonts Chapel. The wooden crucifix dating from the 15C. In 1975, for reasons of dilapidated, the beautiful stone nave was replaced by a paneled ceiling, which was lowered by several meters. As for the bell tower, it was the subject of a recent restoration. Inside, gaze on the sculpted capitals surmounting half-columns of granite, on a magnificent crucifix from the end of the 15C. The sacristy is decorated with beautiful Louis XV style woodwork. The Church Notre Dame de Bon Port of Bourgneuf (Villeneuve en Retz) was one of the main witnesses of local history. Visible from afar thanks to its white and massive bell tower, it was for a long time a benchmark for wetting boats in the bay of Bourgneuf. Each time of destruction, the church will be increasingly large, to accommodate more and more faithful. Founded by René de Rais, lord of Bourgneuf and brother of the famous Gilles de Rais, it consists of a high monument flanked by a massive bell tower.. This presence of a cult at the owner of sailors is easily explained since Bourgneuf, dependent on Saint-Cyr-en-Retz throughout the Middle Ages, had become the main port of salt , Moreover, the city will take supremacy on the mother parish of Saint-Cyr from 1672. In 1800, the need to consider the repair of the bell tower was raised, because it served as a landmark for navigation in the bay. But the years passed, and in 1850 a report rendered was final,the 15C church was irreparable. It is necessary to consider the construction of a new church0 The works will begin in 1854 and the blessing was made on July 1863 ;it was not until 1892 that the work of the new bell tower began. The current bell tower dates from 1893. It is 55 meters in height. A renovation of the church was necessary,and it took place in 2013/2014.
Inside, the Church Notre Dame de Bon Port, we notice the 12 granite columns with capitals decorated with different leaves. The sacristy is decorated with beautiful Louis XV style woodwork. A oak wood organ is a work dating from 1925. It presents a neo-Gothic oak facade. Certain works of art from the old church are visible, such as these wooden statues dating from the 15C to the 18C such as a magnificent crucifix, polychrome originally, dating back to the end of the 15C. It is postable to discern what makes its particularity, by examining this Christ closely: while today, on all the crucifixes, the nails cross the hands, we distinguish here, in the wrists, holes that indicate a first fixing mode more in accordance with the reality of the torture. A statuette of “la Vierge à l’Enfant” or the Virgin and Child from the 18C. Note that the face of the Child Jesus, as well as the drapery, are quite crude for the time. A statue of “Saint Paul Bénissant”, dates from the 18C. This one, with a large movement of arms, which leads to a large drapery. Less concerned about detail, sculpture, seems to want to intentionally show the size of the wood. A red procession banner of 1791. Formerly, on the occasion of the processions, we took out the different banners which adorned the walls and columns of the churches. That of Bourgneuf is one of the oldest in the department. At the time when the monarchy became constitutional, it was dotted with blue lilies. During the reversal of this, the fleur-de-lis are disjointed during the French revolution. The red canvas, restored in 2018, still carries traces. A table of the immaculate assumption, dates from the 19C. It was offered by Napoleon III. The canvas was painted by copyist Clara Fournier from a work by the Spanish painter Murillo. It was restored in 2017.
The Pornic tourist office on the Church Notre Dame de Bon Port of Bourgneuf en Retz now part of Villeneuve en Retz :https://www.pornic.com/eglise-notre-dame-du-bon-port-de-bourgneuf-en-retz.html
The town of Villeneuve en Retz on its heritage : https://villeneuvenretz.fr/tourisme/visitez-villeneuve/
The Pornic tourist office on Villeneuve en Retz : https://en.pornic.com/villeneuve-en-retz-destintion-pornic.html
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 Notre Dame de Bon Port of Villeneuve en Retz !!! as I.
And remember happy travels, good health,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 