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Origin and history

The Saint-Pierre-Fourier Basilica in Mattaincourt is a minor Catholic basilica built in the 19th century, in the Gothic Revival style, one of the first examples of this architectural current in France. It replaces an 18th century church that has become too small for a population of nearly 1,100. His enlargement was initiated in 1842 by the parish priest Charles Hadol, following the canonization rumor of Pierre Fourier, who had officialized it. The present building was completed in 1853.

The basilica is distinguished by its "archeological" neogothic architecture, inspired by medieval models, with a square bell tower surmounted by an octagonal arrow and a two-storey transept, rare in France. The bedside, decorated with staircase turrets and polygonal absidioles, recalls that of the cathedral of Epinal. These elements underline his belonging to a regional stylistic lineage, combining innovation and reference to the past.

Inside, Pierre Fourier's funeral slab, where his body rested until 1732, is kept in front of the altar. The 19th century sculpted cast iron furniture and the modern stained glass windows in glass slabs, created by the Gabriel Loire de Chartres workshop, replace those destroyed during the explosions of 1940 and 1944. These stained glass windows narrated the life of the saint, while the golden wooden chassus, offered in 1730 by the Duchess Elizabeth-Charlotte of Orleans for its beatification, is displayed in the chapel of the relics.

Classified as a historical monument in 1984, the basilica illustrates both a religious heritage in Lorraine and a page of French architectural history. Its inscription includes the sacristy and the presbytery, highlighting the unity of the whole. The building remains a place of pilgrimage dedicated to Pierre Fourier and Alix Le Clerc, major figures of local spirituality.

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