Sunday, July 6, 2014

Basilique St-Sauveur, Dinan, France

The Basilique St-Sauveur in Dinan, France, was founded in the 1100s by a knight who had safely returned from the crusades. The church was not finished until the 1500s and so it contains a hodgepodge of medieval and early Renaissance art and architecture.

St-Sauveur, Dinan

Side view of the church

 The exterior has lots of fancy bits, some quite inexplicable but fascinating. The front door is flanked by gargoyles but Christ keeps an eye on visitors. The decoration survives from the 1100s!

Not sure what's happening to this guy

Over the main door

The interior combines late Romanesque and early Gothic styles, with rather dark lighting.

The nave

The pulpit built into the wall (or maybe an exit)!

The main altar is much brighter.

Main altar

3/4 view

A wide variety of side altars and statues adorn the church, mostly dedicate to women.

Altar to the right of the main altar

Altar to the left of the main altar

Elaborate altar with a lot of female saints

Madonna and Child

St. Joan of Arc

The star of the altars is the reliquary containing the heart of Bertrand du Guesclin, a warrior from the 1300s who defeated English knight Thomas of Canterbury in single combat and was involved in many other battles.

Heart of du Guesclin

The church also has many fine stained glass windows.

A variety of scenes

Jesus baptized in the Jordan River

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