Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of the Cordeliers, built under René II of Lorraine after the Battle of Nancy in 1477, was consecrated in 1487. It became the necropolis of the Dukes of Lorraine, replacing the collegiate Saint-Georges. Its sober architecture, with a unique nave of 73 meters, is typical of Franciscan churches. It houses frescoes, stained glass and polychrome fire, including that of René II, as well as gisers carved by Ligier Richier.

The funeral chapel of the Dukes, built between 1609 and 1612 under Charles III, adopts an Italian baroque style with a trompe-l'oeil dome. It contains the remains of the dynasty, with the exception of François-Étienne, buried in Vienna. Ranked in 1840, the church underwent revolutionary desecrations, then restorations in the 19th century, especially in 1826 under the impetus of the Habsburg-Lorraine.

The building, integrated with the Lorrain Museum, preserves remarkable elements such as a retable of 1522, a rosette with arms of Lorraine, and 17th century stalls. There remains a place of memory for the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, with annual Masses in tribute to the Dukes. The chapel also hosted family events, such as the wedding of Otto de Habsburg in 1951.

Among the major works are Philippe de Gueldre's gissant, carved by Ligier Richier, and a 12th century Romanesque statuette, Le Retour du crusé. The tombs, desecrated in 1793, were restored in 1826, and the remains solemnly rebuked. The church, always assigned to worship, depends on the parish of Saint-Epvre.

The convent attests to the links between Lorraine and the Habsburgs: Marie-Antoinette stopped there in 1770, and François-Joseph I collected there in 1867. After 1918, the Lorraine History Society continued the tradition of memorial Masses. Today, the ensemble, classified as a historical monument, combines religious, funeral and artistic heritage.

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