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Origin and history

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Liesse, located in Liesse-Notre-Dame in Aisne (Hauts-de-France), was erected from the 14th century on the foundations of a 12th century church. It became one of the main Marian shrines in France, attracting pilgrims for healing, exorcism or protection against epidemics. Its radiance extended until the 19th century, with a particular reputation in the Paris Basin.

The basilica is linked to the legend of Ismére, Sudanese princess converted to Christianity after saving French knights during the Crusades. She married Robert of Eppes, son of William II of France, and her statue (a black Virgin) became the object of intense devotion. The flamboyant Gothic basilica was enlarged in the 15th and 16th centuries, with a 13th century choir and a 14th century nave.

Our Lady of Liesse was the patron saint of the Capetians: Charles VI, Louis XI, Francis I, Henry II, Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, among others, made pilgrimages to implore heirs or victories. The original statue, burned during the Revolution, was partially transferred to Quebec in 1877. The basilica, listed as a historical monument in 1920 and erected as a minor basilica in 1923, now houses pilgrimages of converts from Islam.

The interior preserves prestigious ex-votos, such as a model of the Royal Sun (vessel of Louis XIV) or a chalice offered by the Duchess of Berry in 1821. The marble jube, offered by Marie de Gonzague, and the woodwork of the sacristy (XVIIth–XIXth centuries) are protected. The stained glass windows, destroyed in 1940, were replaced in the 1970s by works by Jacques Despierres evoking the Marian and Royal history of the place.

The western facade, restored in 1920, features a 15th century porch topped by a flamboyant bay. The bell tower, covered with slate, dominates the cross of the transept. The chapel of Saint Louis, restored after 1945, exhibits a diorama telling the legend of the three brothers of Eppes and Isméria. The basilica remains a place of memory of royal pilgrimages and medieval Marian devotion.

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