Paris1972-Versailles2003

And here I am again back in my Bretagneand updating this older post on several monuments of Rennes. I am taking a saving mode and doing on general post on several of off the beaten paths monuments that I like to include in my blog, Therefore, here is my take on the Church Notre Dame en Saint Melaine of Rennes , part I !!! Hope you like it as I. 

Ok so I have been to Rennes several times, and written on it on several posts in my blog. However, it has so much to offer as things to see, the city is amazing. The capital city of my lovely region of Bretagne, and the seat of dept 35 Ille et Vilaine. I like telll you a bit about some other monuments especially from the history ,architecture side I like. 

The Church Notre-Dame-en-Saint-Melaine is located in the extension of Rue Saint-Melaine in the center of the medieval town. It is bordered on its southern façade by the western end of the Thabor Park (see post).  The sanctuary is dedicated to Saint Melaine, traditionally considered as the first bishop of Rennes, who died here in 6C. He is buried on the hill of the cemetery in Rennes, where the abbey of Saint Melaine was built. The church presents itself today as a composite building in Romanesque and Gothic style, behind a classical and neoclassical tower-steeple. Its layout is in the form of a Latin cross.

A bit of history I like tell us that the primitive Church was built on the tomb of Saint Melaine, Bishop of Rennes at the end of the 5C and early 6C. The construction of the Romanesque church ,taking from 1081 to 1109, some parts of which remain today; such as the transept and the bases of the tower of the steeple. In the first half of the 13C, the square of the transept was covered with a vault of warheads whose departure is still visible. In the 14C, the arches of the nave and the high windows are redone, as well as the choir. In 1432, the tower of the steeple was rebuilt on Romanesque bases. The façade of the steeple is entirely remade in limestone, also in 1683 a new cloister, but the capitals and columns of the ancient cloister of the 11C are preserved in the Museum of Brittany.

The facade dates to its current appearance of 1676, and is made of limestone. From the old stained glass windows of the Church blown up during WWII, during the bombardment of the city, in 1943, which touched notably the Thabor park, remains, at the bedside a canopy characteristic of the production of the 19C. The stained glass windows are replaced in the 1950’s by simple colored glasses. The large bay of the south transept is adorned with a window of eight meters in height and four meters in width evoking the Translation of the relics from the remains of the Holy Bishop Melaine arriving at the gates of the city of Rennes by the Vilaine river while the laity and clerics prostrate himself in its passage. A Way of the Cross painted in fourteen paintings made in a classical style, inspired by the 17C French or Italian. A great-organ Claus from 1879. The Organ Cavaillon-Coll, former organ of the chapel of the Carmelites delivered in 1874. Transfer of the Church of Saint Aubin to the Abbey and restoration in 2011.

The Rennes tourist office on the Church Notre Dame en Saint Melaine : https://www.tourisme-rennes.com/sortir/eglise-notre-dame-en-saint-melaine/

The Metro Rennes on the Toussaints Church : https://metropole.rennes.fr/organisme/eglise-toussaints-311

The Catholic Dioscese of Rennes on Saint Melaine : https://rennes.catholique.fr/structure/

There you go folks ,another jewel in my wonderful capital city of Rennes. The walks are worth it with plenty of lovely areas, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Church Notre Dame en Saint Melaine, part I !!! as I.

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