Paris1972-Versailles2003

The Church Notre Dame du Val de Grâce, of Baroque classic style in the 5éme arrondissement of Paris,located at Place Alphonse-Laveran. Before the French revolution, it was the church of the Royal Abbey of Val-de-Grâce. The Val de Grace abbey was created in 1621 by Anne of Austria, it then bought a mansion and added additional buildings a few years later. In 1645, the queen, widow of King Louis XIII, asked to add a church and a palace at the Val de Grâce convent. The decision was to create in the form of an oval square in front of the church overlooking rue Saint Jacques. Anne of Austria had built this church in honor of the Virgin Mary, to thank Heaven for granted her a child, after a long period of sterility. The dedication on the pediment of the porch is therefore easily identifiable: Iesu nascenti virginio matri, alluding to the virgin Mary child Jesus. The church was finished in 1647, it has a Latin cross plan and a visible dome of the forecourt of the church.

The two -story facade, with its fins from the Santa Maria Novela church , built in 1470 by Alberti in Florence, The statues, in stone, of Saint Scholastique and Saint Benoît with quadrille the facade by vertical lines: the six columns of the facade and the four columns of the porch; and horizontal lines. The abbey was disused under the French revolution and became a military hospital in 1796 which has still kept this affection with new buildings, notably Boulevard du Port Royal where to find the current entrance. The church, which serves a time as a clothing store and effects for military hospitals, after being restored in 1818-1819 ,it is attached to the diocese to the French armies, and was returned to worship in 1826, Several statues adorn the church these are the statue of Dominique-Jean Larrey , Baron Larrey and the Empire . The statue of Félix Hippolyte Larrey son of the previous one ,and the statue of François Victor Broussais,

Due to the explosion that occurred on June 21, 2023 rue Saint-Jacques, the Church Notre Dame du Val de Grâce have temporarily resulting in the closure of access to the public. These damage concern in particular the Cavaillé Coll organ, originally installed in the former Sainte -Geneviève church, or the current Pantheon until it given to the abbey. They also touched the monumental Baldaquin in Baroque style, dating from the 17C, made of marble and gilded wood. In addition, 15 canopies were seriously damaged by the explosion in the church nave, the choir and the front choir of the nuns (SSA museum), the Sainte-Anne chapel (Chapelle de l’Orgue) as well as in the access lantern tower (museum).

The Paris tourist office on the abbey church : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/culture/abbaye-royale-du-val-de-grace-et-musee-du-service-de-sante-des-armees-p1013

The site Memoire des Hommes of the Ministry of Defense of France, with info on the collection for renovating the church: https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/article.php?laref=3040&titre=restauration-du-baldaquin-eglise-du-val-de-grace-paris

There you go folks, this is a masterpiece for the world and a must for all to visit while in Paris, enough said. The church is beautiful and we love it. Again,hope you enjoy this post on the Church Notre-Dame du Val-de-Grâce as I

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