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Origin and history

The Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Saint-Cordon de Valenciennes, built between 1852 and 1864, replaces the former Church of Notre-Dame-la-Grande, destroyed during the Revolution. It perpetuates the Marian devotion linked to the Tour du Saint Cordon, a procession born in 1008 during an epidemic of plague. After the disappearance of the original relic, a neoclassical statue of the Virgin, attributed to Jean-Baptiste Cadet de Beaupré, became the heart of the cult.

In the 19th century, faced with the proliferation of cholera epidemics and the inadequacy of the temporary church Notre-Dame-la-Grange, an ambitious project was launched. Alexandre Grigny, a diocesan architect, designed a neo-Gothic building inspired by medieval models, under the supervision of a commission including Viollet-le-Duc. The interior decorations, entrusted to local artists like Louis Auvray, reflect the Valencienese's attachment to this sanctuary.

Consecrated in 1864, the basilica became the starting point of the Tour du Saint Cordon and a symbol of identity. In 1922 she obtained the title of minor basilica. His organ, one of the first with electric transmission in France, and his historic bells, such as Jeanne de Flanders (1358), bear witness to his rich heritage. Ranked a historic monument in 1996, it is subject to recurring restorations, especially in 2007 and 2013, despite financial and technical challenges.

The architecture of the basilica, marked by a bedside and a pyramidal façade, is inspired by Norman and Chartrain cathedrals. Its interior, illuminated by glass windows partially destroyed in 1918, houses major works such as René Fache's Tombing or the angels carved by Ernest Hiolle. The axial chapel, dedicated to Notre-Dame du Saint-Cordon, concentrates the most sumptuous decorations, with contributions from Gustave Houzet.

The cult of Notre-Dame du Saint-Cordon, patron saint of Valenciennes since 1892, remains alive. The annual procession, attracting up to 100,000 pilgrims in 1908, illustrates its popular anchor. However, since the end of the twentieth century, the inaugural Mass has been held outside the basilica for lack of capacity. Local associations, such as the Committee for the Protection of Valencien Heritage, are working to preserve it, despite delays in the work and legal disputes.

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