Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Clisson was founded in the 14th century by Olivier V de Clisson as a collegiate church. The medieval building, destroyed by a fire during the Vendée war, was partially restored under Napoleon, but its degraded state imposed a total reconstruction. Almost completely shaved in 1886, it was rebuilt between 1887 and 1888 by the Dutch architect René Ménard (1843-1895), who inspired the Roman basilica of Saints John and Paul.

The Italian style, introduced to Clisson by Frédéric Lemot around 1805, marked this reconstruction deeply, reinforcing the nickname "Clicson I italienne". The church is distinguished by its semicircular bedside and its harmonious proportions, giving it remarkable external elegance. It was classified as a historic monument on 1 September 2006, thus preserving this unique architectural heritage.

The original collegiate church, founded in the 14th and 15th centuries, symbolized the power of Olivier V de Clisson, local lord. After its destruction, the reconstruction of the 19th century reflected both a medieval heritage and a neo-classical Italian influence, typical of the architectural renewal of the region after the Vendée wars.

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