Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Basilica of Saint-Benoît-Labre, located in Marçay (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), was built between 1884 and 1899 according to the original plans of architect Jean-Baptiste Perlat, quickly replaced by Alcide Boutaud. The latter applied characteristic stylistic processes, such as the contrast between interior and exterior or the dematerialization of the walls, visible in the single nave with a split plane and the lateral chapels. The exterior bell tower also illustrates its architectural approach.

Work began in 1884 with the completion of the nave and side cloisters in 1895. The glass windows of the choir, made by master glassmaker Georges Lavergne, as well as the altar designed by Georges Rouzeau, were installed during this period. Upon the death of Abbé Jouanneau, initiator of the project, the works ceased permanently in 1899, leaving the basilica unfinished. It was listed as a Historic Monument in 2011 for its entire collection, including sacristy.

The building reflects a period of religious architectural renewal in France, where church sponsors, like Abbé Jouanneau, played a central role in promoting an innovative sacred art. Local artisans, glassmakers and sculptors, collaborated on ambitious projects combining tradition and modernity, as evidenced by the contributions of Lavergne and Rouzeau. The basilica remains a notable example of this unfinished heritage, typical of the financial and human challenges of the time.

External links