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Discover
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France
Great East

Basilica of Our Lady of Hope

Discover
Places to see
France
Great East

Basilica of Our Lady of Hope

Highlight • Religious Site

Basilica of Our Lady of Hope

Recommended by 12 hikers out of 13

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    Best Hikes to Basilica of Our Lady of Hope

    3.9

    (11)

    47

    hikers

    1. Two stories for one city – Charleville-Mézières

    8.12km

    02:06

    50m

    50m

    Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Intermediate

    4.3

    (7)

    21

    hikers

    Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Easy

    Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Intermediate

    Tips

    July 23, 2024

    The construction of the Basilica of Notre-Dame-d'Espérance took more than a century between 1499 and 1615. The work was interrupted several times, for example during the siege of Mézières in 1521. The building is listed as a monument and is a masterpiece of the flamboyant gothic. However, the main portal and the tower break with the Gothic style and are built in Renaissance style, recognizable by the round arch and the coffers in the vault. The bell tower was built in the 19th century. The south portal is particularly opulent. King Charles IX and Elisabeth of Austria, grandniece of Charles V, entered through this door in 1570 for their wedding ceremony, even though the construction of the church had not yet been completed. The choice of Méeières had a strong symbolic value: reconciliation could be achieved through this strategic alliance.

    Translated by Google •

      July 24, 2024

      The original stained glass windows disappeared during bombings in 1815, 1870 and 1918. Today the basilica has an exceptional collection of contemporary stained glass windows, created between 1954 and 1979 by René Dürrbach, a friend of Picasso. Over 25 years, this artist has created a colossal set of 68 stained glass windows, unique in Europe, which honor the former 'Black Virgin' and the 'Virgin of Light' by referring to the universal symbols of colors, shapes and numbers, inspired through his collaboration with Henri Giriat. Since 2018, the former sacristy of the church has housed the Trésor d'art sacré des Ardennes, which contains around fifty masterpieces (ancient statues, precious relics, etc.) that were previously inaccessible to the public.

      Translated by Google •

        Construction of the basilica began in 1499 and lasted 120 years, reusing the foundations and certain elements of the primitive Romanesque church. It was established as a basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1946. In a late flamboyant Gothic style of great unity, this building amazes with its twenty-one cornerstone vaults, its beautiful stained glass windows covering an area of 1000 m² and its completely mechanical organ made in the classical style of Northern European.

        Translated by Google •

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          Details

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          Elevation 150 m

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          Tuesday 4 November

          13°C

          6°C

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          If you start your activity now...

          Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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          Location: Great East, France

          Other Popular Places to Check Out

          Place Ducale, Charleville-Mézières

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