Experience the Loire Valley Home Page

Loire Valley Churches

 

staine glass window in the church at Betz le Chateau

 

The Loire Valley, Centre - Val de Loire region of France has a very interesting religious history. Like the rest of the country it has a predominately Catholic history inherited from its 'founding father' Clovis I with almost every town and village having its own church (sometimes more than one) but in the 16th century this brought the majority into conflict with the minority population of Huguenots, French Protestants and created a period of 'religious wars' which resulted, after many twists and turns, in the 'Edicts of Nantes' in which the majority of civil rights were regained by practicing Protestants. The 'French Revolution'  (1789-1792) resulted in the the collapse of the monarchy and with it Catholicism.By 1789 all churches and religious orders were effectively closed down, many of the buildings becoming community properties such as storage facilities or factories and even stables. They were also plundered for their statues, relics and works of art - some lost forever. Crosses were taken from churches and cemeteries to distance them from religion and any symbolism of it. It was not until six years later that some were allowed to be reopened and used for worship.

The Revolution saw the association of religion and government change with the country taking the position of secularization which it still holds today. Following the turmoil of this period the 19th century saw a revival of religious sentiment and desire to return to an open expression of faith.

 

Despite the ravages of war and revolution the churches of the Loire Valley have, to a greater extent, survived and many still have an open door policy with regards to visitors. You will find an excellent variety of medieval architecture from small Romanesque village churches to fine gothic influenced churches.

 

St Anthony's church in Loches

St. Anthony's Loches

St.Oar's Loches

 

Saint Nichols

Tavant

Notre-Dame de

Riviere

 

St Andrew's

Villaines-les-Rochers

Holy Trinirty chapel

Richelieu

Notre-Dame-de-Richelieu

St John the Baptist

Braye-sous-Faye

 

 St Gervais-et-

St.Portais

Le Grand Pressigny

 

Cravant-les-Coteaux 

 

 

 

Troglodyte chapel

of Notre Dame de Lorette

 

 

Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois

 

 

 

Saint-Christophe Bléré

 

St.John the Baptist,

Chenonceaux

 

Saint-Martin de Lignieres

 

Saint-Denis Amboise

 

Saint Mande and Saint Jean Ferriere-Larcon

Saint Martin's Charnizay

Saint Nicolas Saumur

Notre-Dame de Nanteuil,Montrichard

Saint Martin's Aubigny-sur-Nere

Saint-Quentin-sur-Indrois

Saint Martin's Le Liege

Saint-Senoch

Notre-Dame Montbazon

Saint-Calais Chapel,Blois

Saint-Sulpice,Vallières-les-Grandes

Saint-Jean-Baptiste,Langeais

Saint-Didier Cheille

Saint Mary Magdalene,Brehemont

Notre-Dame de Rigny

Saint-Etienne, Villandry

Saint-Etienne, Cheverny

Notre Dame de l'Assomption, Apremont-sur-Allier

Saint Martin's Chambourg-sur-Indre

Saint-Michel de Fontavraud de Abbey

The chapel at Chateau de Chenonceau

St. Madeleine de Vendome

Saint-Avertin

The following Loire Valley churches are on the 'Loire Valley Experiences' blog

 

Saint-Jean-Baptiste,

Langeais

 

St. Médard   Vallères 

 

Saint Mande and Saint Jean Ferriere-Larcon

Saint Synphorien Azay-le-Rideau

 

External links:

 

On Google+

 

historytoday.com/      

Great information on the French Revolution and Catholic church

 

historylearningsite.co.uk                            

Information on France's religious wars.

 

Blogroll:

 

loirevalleyexperiences.blogspot.fr/ 

Search 'church on Sunday' here for many examples.

Abbeys & Cathedrals

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"Author: Jim Craig"