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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste du Loroux-Bottereau, located in the Loire-Atlantique department, is the third religious building built on this site. The first, dating from the 11th or 12th century and enlarged in the 15th century, was destroyed in 1794 during the Vendée wars by the infernal columns. A second church, rebuilt between 1817 and 1820, quickly became insufficient for the local population.

The present building was erected between 1858 and 1870 under the Second Empire, under the leadership of Mayor Aymé-Simon Renoul and according to the plans of architect Henry Faucher. In a neo-Gothic style, it stands out for its 75-metre bell tower with eight brass bells totalling 11 tons. Its originality lies in the Romanesque frescoes (circa 1170-1180) discovered in 1822 in the former chapel Saint-Laurent, now extinct. These murals, classified as historical monuments in 1923, illustrate legendary episodes of the life of Saint Gilles, including a scene where a sovereign (perhaps Charlemagne, according to the inscription MAGNVS) implores his forgiveness.

The frescoes, deposited and preserved, represent two distinct accounts: the wound of Saint Gilles by King Flavius during a hunt, and the penance of a sovereign guilty of incest with his sister. Their Romanesque style and their rare iconography make it an exceptional testimony of medieval art in Pays de la Loire. The church, owned by the commune, remains a place of worship and a major artistic heritage, linked to the religious and architectural history of the region.

The available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum, Merimée base) confirm the protection of the murals as the only classified element of the monument. The exact address, 6869 Place Saint-Jean au Loroux-Bottereau, and code Insee 44084 link the site to the arrondissement of Nantes, in the Pays de la Loire region.

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