We have driven in the area and stop by again, always worth it me think, This is memorable City of Blois in the Loir et Cher dept 41 of the Centre Val de Loire region of my belle France, There is so much to see , and did see more for you and me, I have written plenty on this monument but more is always welcome by me ! Therefore, here is my take again on the Church Saint Vincent de Paul of Blois, Part II !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.
The Church Saint-Vincent de Paul is located opposite the Royal Castle and in front of the Augustin Thierry square, It was built from 1626 to 1677. Originally under the direction of the Jesuits, it became a temple of freedom during the French revolution, then became a parish church in 1826. It reflects the architectural principles laid down by the Council of Trent and the Catholic Counter-Reformation in the 17C: a single nave, shallow side chapels, a very short choir to bring the faithful closer together. The church is characteristic of French religious art from the first half of the 17C.
The Church Saint-Vincent de Paul has a very rich interior decoration: statues, paintings, altarpiece, sculptures, etc. The façade is also faithful to the aesthetic criteria of the Jesuit order. The church was devastated during the French revolution, and returned to worship in 1828 after restoration. The chapel became a parish church in 1847 under the name of Saint-Vincent de Paul. It should also be noted that the church is oriented north-south (the choir is to the north). The slow construction of the church was completed thanks to donations from Gaston d’Orléans. Devastated during the French revolution, In 1793, the urn that protected the heart of Gaston d’Orléans was broken and the heart of the benefactor thrown away. The French revolution unfortunately caused many other destructions such as that of the side chapels, of a marble mosaic floor, of the choir grille, as well as of the magnificent marble tomb in which a Polish princess rested. Only two bas-reliefs were recovered from it, which today adorn a chapel of the cathedral.
The façade respects the architectural criteria desired by the Jesuit Order. We can see the three floors of pilasters in Doric, Ionic and Corinthian style. The Saint-Joseph Chapel and its stained glass window (whose perimeter dates back to the monarchy); the Saint-Louis de Gonzague Chapel, which we can see halfway through. The altarpiece had originally a painted canvas in its center. It was replaced by an “apparition of the Virgin” after the French revolution. On the left is the mausoleum of Gaston d’Orléans; on the right, the monument of Mademoiselle de Montpensier. Above, the central statue of the monument of Mademoiselle de Montpensier in close-up. This entire ensemble, with the organ loft, is the work of Gaspard Imbert.
Under the monarchies, the Chapel had beautiful stained glass windows. During the fighting of WWII, they were blown away by the explosions of the bombs dropped nearby. Only the stained glass of the vow of Louis XIII remains and the perimeter of the stained glass of the Saint-Joseph Chapel. It is called the vow of Louis XIII, the consecration of France to the Virgin Mary by King Louis XIII on February 10, 1638. All the other stained glass windows are contemporary. The former St. Louis Chapel of the Jesuit College of Blois, it was built in the 17C but only became a parish church in the 19C, under the name Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. The Church Saint Vincent de Paul is in fact the former Chapel of St. Louis of the Royal College of the city that Louis XIII gave to the Jesuits in 1622 and that these made restore and decorate thanks to the largesse of Gaston d’Orléans (brother of the King), then of Anne-Marie of Montpensier (The Great Mademoiselle), his daughter. From 1670, the Chapel was transformed into a monument to the glory of the prince and his family. Finally, the Church is completed in 1678 thanks to the donations of Gaston d’Orléans.
The City of Blois on its heritage ,see Church Saint Vincent de Paul: https://www.blois.fr/attractive/remarquable/sites-culturels-patrimoniaux
The Blois Chambord tourist office on the Church Saint Vincent de Paul of Blois: https://www.bloischambord.co.uk/offers/eglise-saint-vincent-de-paul-blois-en-250273/
The Loir et Cher dept 41 tourist office on Blois : https://www.val-de-loire-41.com/destination-loir-et-cher/blois-la-ville-royale/
There you go folks, a dandy area to explore and enjoy with the family, Memorable moments in my belleFrance,going all over in my road warrior trails brings out sublime awesome spots with nice memorable family visits of yesteryear always remember and always looking forward to be back, eventually. Again hope you enjoy the post on the Church Saint Vincent de Paul, part II !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 