The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Cléry
9
Don’t miss a visit to this flamboyant Gothic masterpiece!
Certification labels
- Listed or registered (CNMHS)
- UNESCO World Heritage
Availability
Description
Description of heritage
Descriptif du site et monument historique
Known to house the tomb of Louis XI, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Cléry is a must-see in the Loire Valley. In the flamboyant Gothic style (15th century), it is the setting of an annual pilgrimage whose origin dates back to the discovery in 1280 of a statue of Our Lady.
The first stone was laid in 1339… But during the Hundred Years' War, the English will have no pity for the building and will leave only the tower of the steeple. Jean de Dunois, lord of Beaugency and famous bastard of Orleans, will play a vital role in his reconstruction. In 1444, he initiated the rebuilding of it and installed a funeral chapel in which he was buried with his wife. King Louis XI proclaimed it “Royal Chapel” in 1467 and chose it as a burial place.
Accessibility
- Handicap access
Visit
- French
Guided group tour on request: yes
Individual guided tour on request: yes
Free group visit permanently: yes
Individual free visit permanently: yes
Average duration of the group visit: 01h00
