Notre-Dame de la Trinité basilica (Blois)
The Basilica Notre-Dame de la Trinité de Blois ("Basilica of Our Lady of the Trinity of Blois") is a pilgrimage church in Blois in the French department of Loir-et-Cher .
history
The basilica was built on the initiative of the Capuchins of the monastery in Blois and its construction was made possible thanks to donations collected. The Capuchins of Blois had worked by distributing writings on Marian devotion in several languages. This was in 1921 by Pope Benedict XV. acknowledged by the approval of the arch-brotherhood of the three Hail Marys and the mandate to spread this form of piety. In the following years collections were carried out to establish a center for Marian devotion in Blois. Construction began in 1932, but it wasn't until 1935, under the direction of the architect Paul Rouvière , that construction made visible progress. With the outbreak of the Second World War , the work was stopped, especially since the architect was one of the first victims of the war. In 1949 the church was consecrated, in 1956 it was opened by Pope Pius XII. raised to the minor basilica .
Architecture and equipment
The basilica and the surrounding convent are considered to be an important example of sacred architecture from the interwar period in France. The nave is illuminated by 14 large, colorful church windows. On these the significance of the Marian mysteries in the context of salvation history and in connection with the Trinity is shown. These windows were created by the glass artists Louis Barillet , Jacques Le Chevallier and Théodore-Gérard Hanssen . A way of the cross made of monumental sculptures by the sculptor Jean Lambert-Rucki stretches under these windows . The choir behind the main altar shows, among other things, the coronation of Mary on a large mosaic . The French goldsmith and silversmith Jean Puiforcat showed the works of art that he had created for the church in Blois at the Paris World Exhibition in 1937 .
The basilica, the monastery and the rooms for the supply and accommodation of the pilgrims have been registered as protected buildings in the register of the department since 1996 .
Web links
- Website of the monastery (French)
Coordinates: 47 ° 35 ′ 38 " N , 1 ° 20 ′ 36" E