Visite guidée de la Basilique de Mézières, ses vitraux et son trésor d'art sacré

A visit from treasure to treasure

Classified as a “Historic Monument” on October 18, 1901, this late flamboyant Gothic style church was built from 1499. Its construction lasted nearly 120 years, using the foundations and certain elements of a primitive Romanesque church. 

It received the name of Our Lady of Hope at the beginning of the 1962th century when it housed the statue of the Black Virgin. Honored since the 1643th century, the Black Virgin of Mézières generates an annual pilgrimage which lasted until XNUMX! The current stone statue replaces the wooden one burned in XNUMX.

Raised to the rank of Basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1946, the Church, which became a Cathedral for a day, saw the marriage of the King of France Charles IX to Elizabeth of Austria in 1570. Numerous times ravaged and bombed during the conflicts of history, Notre Dame is always rebuilt like a phoenix reborn from the ashes.

After the Second World War, a call was launched for the manufacture of new stained glass windows. It was the painter and sculptor René Dürrbach, collaborator and friend of Picasso, who had just completed the stained glass windows for the church of Epenoy in Doubs, who received the order. 1 m000 of surface area, 2 stained glass windows and 62 windows were created between 6 and 1954.
Witness to non-figurative art of the second half of the 20th century, the artist uses the symbolism of colors, numbers and fundamental signs. He thus carries out a meditation journey dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Finally, a final jewel is housed in the completely renovated former sacristy of the Basilica: the Treasure of Sacred Art of the Ardennes. Around fifty masterpieces and precious objects which remained hidden for a long time in sacristies and church reserves in the department.
Inaugurated in July 2018, the Treasury presents ancient statues, precious reliquaries, goldworked chalices, embroidered chasubles and paintings within a modern museum space. Exceptional objects which testify to the know-how of artisans from the XNUMXth century to the XNUMXth century in the Ardennes.


Learn more about the city of Mézières, the Medieval!