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Origin and history

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Sées is a minor Catholic basilica located in the city of Sées, in the department of Orne in Normandy. It is the first building in France dedicated to the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854. Its construction, initiated in December 1854 by Abbé Desaubay, was entrusted to the diocesan architect Victor Ruprich-Robert. The first stone was laid in 1855, and the chapel was opened for worship in 1859, although its official consecration took place only in 1872.

The project was financed by an subscription launched in 1854, making this basilica a symbol of early Marian devotion in France. The neo-Roman-inspired building is designed with a unique nave. The original stained glass windows in greyware, designed by Ruprich-Robert, were replaced in 1872 by stained stained glass windows made by the Maréchal and Champigneulle workshops. The statuary is entrusted to the sculptor Leharivel-Durocher. In 1902, the church was erected as a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII.

The basilica was listed as historic monuments in 2006, recognizing its heritage and architectural importance. It marks a stylistic transition in the region, from neo-classicism to neo-medieval architecture, inspired by the national currents of the time. Its history reflects both a local religious fervour and an evolution of diocesan architectural practices in the 19th century.

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