The Saint-Thomas Church of La Fléche !!!

Posted in Europe, France

I was on my by now monthly road warrior trails of my belle France, I was out with my boys and my good dog Rex riding into the wonderful regions near me. This even if passed by before, is my first time in the town of La Fléche, full of architecture and history monuments.The town of La Flèche is located in the Sarthe department 72 in the Pays de la Loire region of my belle France , Therefore, here is my take on the Saint-Thomas Church of La Fléche !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Saint-Thomas Church is today the main religious building in the town. This Romanesque church was built in the 12C , The church is located on Place Henri IV, The elegant spire of its bell tower rose to a height of 26 meters. In the 18C, it collapsed and a new, smaller spire was rebuilt between 1856 and 1883.

In addition you have wonderful furniture and statues inside such as the Notre Dame du-Chef-du-Pont or Our Lady of the Chief of the Bridge, a 14C statue made of polychrome limestone. It is so named in reference to the former chapel of the Château des Carmes, from which it comes, which was built at the start of the bridge over the Loir river. It has been preserved in the church since 1860. The Saint Sebastian, polychrome terracotta statue, work circa 1630. The Saint Michael Slaying the Dragon, polychrome oak sculpted group from the 17C, which came from the organ crown of the collegiate church of Amboise. It was purchased in the early 19C by the parishioners of Saint-Thomas. A wonderful Saint Barbara, terracotta statue from the second half of the 17C, which came from the former Franciscan convent of La Flèche, closed shortly before the French revolution. The Assumption of the Virgin, painting by the painter Simon Vouet, painted in 1629. The Baptism of Christ, a painting from the second half of the 17C, created by Pierre I Besnard , and late 17C oak stalls from the Abbey of La Boissière in Dénézé-sous-le-Lude

A masterpiece by the Merklin factory, inaugurated in 1885. This medium-sized organ underwent its first restoration in 1946, unfortunately of poor quality. Silent since the end of the last century, the instrument was abandoned, although its action is still partially preserved. There is a restoration effort going on as I write.

A bit of history I like tell us that in 1109, Hélie, Lord of La Flèche, founded the Saint-Thomas Priory, which he donated to the Benedictine monks of the Saint-Aubin Abbey in Angers. It was at this time that construction of the Saint-Thomas Church began. The church was remodeled many times over the centuries, particularly during the 19C.

The town of La Fléche on its heritage : https://www.ville-lafleche.fr/loisirs/tourisme/patrimoine/

The town of La Fléche on its history: https://www.ville-lafleche.fr/la-ville/lhistoire/

The local Loir Valley tourist office on La Fléche : https://www.loir-valley.com/things-to-see-to-do/sites-to-visit/

There you go folks , a nice quant town worth a detour me think. The area is wonderfully located to visit other wonders of my belle France, Again ,hope you enjoy this post on the Saint-Thomas Church of La Fléche !!! as I

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

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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