Basilicas in France—Pays de la Loire

Basilica of St. Nicholas, Nantes, Loire-Atlantique

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII in 1882.

A chapel was built on this site in the 12th Century and the current Gothic Revival church was built in the mid-1800s. It features a 65-foot-tall stained-glass window and an altar with 26 statues. The church was severely damaged during the Second World War but has been restored.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Donatien and St. Rogatien, Nantes, Loire-Atlantique

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII in 1889.

The Basilica was built in the 18th Century on the site of four previous churches. The Basilica is dedicated to two early Christian martyrs who were brothers.

The first two pictures are from local sources and the third is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Oak, Vion, Sarthe

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII in 1894.

Since 1494, pilgrims have come to this site. Originally a statue of Our Lady was placed in an oak tree. Mary is said to have appeared to a woman at this site and miracles have been attributed to Our Blessed Mother’s intercession. The current Gothic church was built between 1869 and 1875.

The first picture is from the basilica website and the other two are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of Avesnieres, Laval, Mayenne

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII in 1898.

The Basilica is named for a neighborhood of Laval. The Romanesque church was built in the 12th Century and contains a 14th Century Madonna, a 16th Century statue of St. Christopher, and triptychs dating to the 15th Century.

All pictures aare from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of Miracles, Mayenne, Mayenne

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII in 1900.

Portions of the basilica date to 1110 although renovations have been made frequently over the centuries.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of Hope, Pontmain, Mayenne

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius X in 1905.

During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1, the Prussian army was advancing on Laval, France. The war was not going well for the French. On January 17, 1871, the Virgin Mary appeared to some children in the town of Pontmain, near Laval. That very evening the Prussian Army stopped their advance. One Prussian general noted his army was blocked by an invisible Madonna. The war ended with a week. Near the site of the apparition, the Basilica was built between 1873 and 1894 in a Gothic Revival style.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Madeline, Angers, Maine-et-Loire

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1922.

The Gothic church was built between 1873 and 1878. The Basilica was vandalized in April 2023.

From a local source.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Thorn, Evron, Mayenne

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1939.

The church was built between 1405 and 1527 using a Flamboyant Gothic style. It was rebuilt in 1868. It takes its name from a Madonna statue that was found around 1300 in a thorn bush. It is noted for its gargoyles and for being a stop on one of the roads to St. James Compostela in Spain. The church is said to have inspired various artists and writers including Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, and Paul Claudel.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Benedict, Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire, Loiret

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1949.

The Basilica is the abbey church for a Benedictine monastery that dates to around 630. Forty monks live there today. The Romanesque Basilica was built in the 11th Century.