Basilicas in France—Lorraine
Basilica of Epvre, Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius IX in 1874.
The local duke established a parish here in 1080 and dedicated it to St. Epvre, a 5th Century bishop. The first church was replaced by a second church in the 15th Century that was built in a Flamboyant Gothic style. The current Neo-Gothic building was built between 1864 and 1875.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of St. Peter Fourier, Mattaincourt, Vosges
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII in 1897.
St. Peter Fourier (1565-1640) was a priest who had served at this parish. He was beatified in 1730 and by the middle of the 19th Century, local officials wanted to upgrade and enlarge the local church. The neo-Gothic church was completed in 1853. St. Peter was canonized in 1897.
The first two pictures are from local sources and the last is from Wikipedia.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius X in 1905.
The basilica was built as a parish church in a Romanesque-Byzantine style between 1902 and 1905. It was inspired by the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre in Paris. The stained-glass windows were designed by Joseph Janin.
The first picture is from Alamy and the other two are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes, Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1925.
The Romanesque and Gothic church was built between 1908 and 1933 to serve a new parish.
The first picture is from TripAdvisor and the rest are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of Our Lady of Good Help, Saint-Avold, Moselle
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1932.
A chapel was built here by Benedictine monks in the 16th Century who had found a statue of the Virgin Mary in a bush. The Benedictines replaced the chapel with a larger church in the 17th Century. A third chapel was built after the French Revolution. The current Romanesque Revival church was built between 1889 and 1902. The basilica was damaged during the Second World War but was restored.
The first picture is from a local source and the others are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of St. Maurice, Epinal, Vosges
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1933.
The Romanesque and Gothic church was built primarily between the 11th and 13th Centuries but has been renovated since then. Early on, the church was associated with Benedictine nuns.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of Our Lady of Sion, Saxon-Sion, Muerthe-et-Moselle
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1933.
The church was built between the 13th and 19th Centuries. It was once a pilgrimage destination for Dukes of Lorraine and before that for Romans and Celts.
All pictures are from Wikipedia
Former Basilica of St. Vincent, Metz, Moselle
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1933.
The Gothic church was built between the 13th and 14th Centuries although a Classical façade was added in the 18th Century after a fire. It was once an abbey church. It has not been used for Mass since the late 1980s and was deconsecrated in 2012. It now is a venue for exhibitions, concerts, and other entertainment.
Both pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of St. Joan of Arc, Domremy-la-Pucelle, Vosges
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1938.
St. Joan of Arc (1412-1431) was born in Domremy and after receiving visions from St. Michael and other saints led an army to fight the English during the Hundred Years War. The English controlled most of what is now northern France. She was captured by the English and burned at the stake. She was canonized in 1920. The basilica was built between 1881 and 1926 on the site of the visions. The neo-Romanesque building is made of pink granite and white stone.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica Cathedral of Notre Dame, Verdun, Meuse
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1947.
The Basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese of Verdun, which was established in the 4th Century. The church was originally constructed between 990 and 1024 in a Romanesque style. Because of wars and fires, it has been restored and renovated several times. A Gothic restoration was done between the 14th and 16th Centuries and a Baroque and Rococo restoration was done in the 18th Century. Additional restoration was done after the First World War. The church has 43 objects listed as historical monuments including vestments, liturgical objects, and statues. The bell towers contain 19 bells.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of St. Nicolas de Port, Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, Meurthe-et-Moselle
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
The first church here dedicated to St. Nicholas was built in the 12th Century after a possible miracle attributed to the saint. The current Flamboyant Gothic church was built between 1481 and 1545 by the Duke of Lorraine to celebrate a victory in a 1477 battle. The church has 18 bells and some of its stained-glass windows date to the 16th Century. The church was badly damaged during the Second World War, but a local woman married to a wealthy American paid for its restoration between 1983 and 2005.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of Notre Dame, Avioth, Meuse
Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1993.
A wooden statue of the Madonna and Child was discovered near here in the 12th Century. Pilgrims (including St. Bernard of Clairvaux) started coming and this Gothic church was built in the 14th Century.
The first picture is from a local source, the second is from Pinterest, and the last two are from Wikipedia.
