Basilicas in France—Burgundy and Franche-Comté

I blogged about the following church on May 15, 2019.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Evangelist in Besancon.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Cyriacus and St. Julietta, Nevers, Nievre

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius IX in 1868.

The basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese of Nevers. Nevers is on one of the routes to the pilgrimage sites at Santiago de Compostela in Spain. A 9th Century church here replaced an earlier church. The current church began as a Romanesque church built in the 11th Century to replace the 9th Century church. A series of fires in the 13th Century resulted in portions of the church being rebuilt in a Gothic style.

The first picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Paray-le-Monial, Saone-et-Loire

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius IX in 1875.

The church was built in the 12th Century by an abbot of Cluny and the monastery eventually became a smaller version of the Abbey of Cluny. The church has become an important pilgrimage site because a 17th Century nun, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, lived and died at the monastery. St. Margaret Mary had visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and was encouraged by Jesus to spread devotion of His Sacred Heart to all the world.

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Sts. Ferreolus and Ferrutio, Besancon, Doubs

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius X in 1912.

The Roman-Byzantine style Basilica was built between 1870 and 1898 in thanksgiving for protecting the city from Prussian troops. It is named for two 3rd Century missionaries who were martyred for the Faith. Other churches existed at this site prior to the current building.

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

Basilica of Our Lady of the White, Faverney, Haute-Saone

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius X in 1912.

A monastery of Benedictine nuns was here from 747 to 1132. Benedictine monks took over in 1137 until they were expelled in 1789 during the French Revolution. Today the Basilica is a parish church and the monastery buildings are in private ownership. The white stone basilica dates to the 11th Century and uses both Gothic and Romanesque styles. It has been renovated several times over the centuries. A Eucharistic miracle is said to have occurred here in 1608. A fire broke out in the church destroying the altar and much of the church, but the monstrance containing the Body of Christ was found suspended in mid-air above the burned altar.

Pictures are from Alamy, a local source, and TripAdvisor.

Basilica of St. Andoche, Saulieu, Cote-d’Or

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1919.

This church was built in the 12th Century as a collegiate church. It replaced a 6th Century abbey church. The church has 60 carved figures depicting biblical stories and religious teachings.

The first two pictures are from Alamy and the last two are from Pinterest.

Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, Vezelay, Yonne

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.

The Basilica is the church for Vezesay Abbey, once one of the most important monasteries in France. The Benedictine monastery was established in the 9th Century and the basilica was built in the 12th Century in a Romanesque style. Possible relics of Mary Magdalene attracted pilgrims.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Peter, Luxeuil-les-Bains

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1925.

This Gothic church was built in the 13th Century as an abbey church. It is the fourth church on this site and is now a parish church.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady, Gray, Haute-Saone

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1948.

The church was constructed in the 15th and 16th Centuries using Renaissance and Gothic styles. It replaced a church destroyed during the War of the Burgundian Succession. It has long attracted pilgrims due to it having relics of St. Peter Fourier and a statue of Our Lady.

Both are from local sources.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Lazarus, Autun, Saone-et-Loire

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Pius XII in 1949.

The basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese Autun. The 12th Century church has Cluniac inspiration and Romanesque sculptures by Gislebertus. It replaced a 5th Century cathedral.

All are from Wikipedia.

Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter, Paul and Andrew, Saint-Claude, Jura

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

The basilica is the cathedral for Diocese of Saint-Claude. The current 15th Century church replaced an earlier building that was the church of an abbey. The abbey was founded in the 5th Century. The current church became the cathedral for the Diocese when it was created in 1742.

Both are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady, Dole, Jura

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

The Gothic Renaissance church was built in the 16th Century and replaced an earlier church. The church was secularized in 1793 during the French Revolution before being returned to the Church in 1802.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Christopher, Belfort, Belfort

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1952.

The basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese of Belfort-Montbeliard, which was established in 1979. The red sandstone church was built in the first half of the 18th Century.