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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Vitré, located in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany, is a former collegiate church built mainly in the 15th and 16th centuries. This flamboyant Gothic monument, the only preserved parish church in the closed city, was built for a parish of wealthy merchants of Outre-Mer. Its history dates back much further, however, with traces of a religious institution as early as the 11th century, although its status as a mother parish returns to the church of Saint-Pierre, now disappeared.

The current building was built between 1440 and 1586, with major campaigns such as the cross of the transept (1440-1442), the northern collateral (1467), and the western facade (1540-1570). The southern facade, particularly remarkable, was built in two phases (1480-1500 and 1530-1540) and illustrates the evolution of styles, from the flamboyant Gothic to the Renaissance. The church was listed as a Historic Monument in 1840, recognizing its exceptional heritage value.

Under the Ancien Régime, Notre-Dame de Vitré played a dual role: parishion for the inhabitants, and priorial for the Benedictines of the neighboring priory. The nave was reserved for parishioners, while the choir, dedicated to the Virgin, was used by the monks. This physical separation, materialized by a wall in 1624, reflected the duality of the building. The French Revolution marked a turning point, with the destruction of the interior and the disappearance of the Benedictines in 1791. The concordataires then restored the church in a neo-Gothic style.

The architecture of Notre-Dame de Vitré is distinguished by its singular plan, combining a nave with six spans, two collaterals, and a deeply disoriented choir. The south facade, facing the city, is decorated with seven gables and a carved outer pulpit, while the west façade, in Renaissance style, features a portal inspired by antiquity. The bell tower, rebuilt in 1858 after a fire in 1704, dominates the building with its octagonal arrow.

The interior houses rich furniture, including 15th and 16th century stained glass windows, such as The Entry of Christ to Jerusalem (1537), as well as 19th century neo-Gothic works. Among the treasures are a limougeaud enamelled altarpiece of the 16th century, award-winning organs at the Universal Exhibition of 1851, and frescoes rediscovered in 2007. These elements illustrate the artistic and religious evolution of the region.

Our Lady of Vitré also embodies the economic history of the city, linked to the trade of canvases and the merchant brotherhoods. The Confrérie des Marchands d'Outre-Mer, founded in 1473, played a central role, financing chapels and stained glass windows. Today, the church remains an active place of worship and a major testimony of the Breton heritage, combining medieval history, Renaissance and 19th century restorations.

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