Constructed on the highest point in the old town of Vitre, Notre Dame de Vitre is the only preserved church in the town from the Middle Ages.
Robert I, the elected king of West Francia, founded Notre Dame in 1060 as a collegiate church ( one established under two or more pastors, but without a Bishop). Vitre already had been an important entity under both the Merovigian and Carolingian dynasties. So, building a large church that resembled a cathedral here seemed logical. Misconduct by the church’s monks led to its decline, with the result that in 1116, Bishop Marbode of Rennes transferred ownership to the Benedictines.
Between 1480 and 1550, this parish church was totally rebuilt, with funding from rich overseas merchants. The 100 Years War (which had just ended) had caused a lot of destruction within the town, resulting in a massive rebuilding effort.
While Vitre’s Notre Dame has always been a parish church (and never a cathedral), its reconstruction resembled the larger religious edifices throughout France and Europe. In addition to the main altar, there are six chapel altars on the north side of the building and another five chapel altars on the south side. Sitting in the heart of Vitre’s Old Town, Notre Dame is one of the most visited buildings in the area.
Robert I, the elected king of West Francia, founded Notre Dame in 1060 as a collegiate church ( one established under two or more pastors, but without a Bishop). Vitre already had been an important entity under both the Merovigian and Carolingian dynasties. So, building a large church that resembled a cathedral here seemed logical. Misconduct by the church’s monks led to its decline, with the result that in 1116, Bishop Marbode of Rennes transferred ownership to the Benedictines.
Between 1480 and 1550, this parish church was totally rebuilt, with funding from rich overseas merchants. The 100 Years War (which had just ended) had caused a lot of destruction within the town, resulting in a massive rebuilding effort.
While Vitre’s Notre Dame has always been a parish church (and never a cathedral), its reconstruction resembled the larger religious edifices throughout France and Europe. In addition to the main altar, there are six chapel altars on the north side of the building and another five chapel altars on the south side. Sitting in the heart of Vitre’s Old Town, Notre Dame is one of the most visited buildings in the area.
Notre Dame de Vitre (Our Lady of Vitre), founded by Robert I in 1060, is a stunningly beautiful parish church.. while it is large enough to have been a Cathedral, it never served as such.
The southern facade of the church, with its seven gabled architecture, is the most ornate feature of the building.
We were amazed by the intricacies of the sculptured middle door on the south facade.
This outdoor preaching pulpit pulpit was used for large scale events that included overflow crowds.
Looking towards the elevated main altar area....
...Where the monk’s choir, with its vaulted ceiling, brings one focus on the main altar and the wonderful stained glass window behind it.
The original organ was built between 1636 and 1639 and was renovated in 1847.
The more stunning stained glass windows date from the late 1400’s to the early 1500’s, this one of the entry of Christ into Jerusalem is dated 1537.
One of the six side chapels on the north side of the church.
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