Bronze Bell 1505 (≈ 1505)
Bell still in the bell tower.
1544
Destruction of the old church
Destruction of the old church 1544 (≈ 1544)
The parish building of the 12th-XIVth centuries destroyed.
1552
Construction of the present church
Construction of the present church 1552 (≈ 1552)
Gothic style with Renaissance influences.
XVIe siècle
Construction of stained glass windows
Construction of stained glass windows XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Glassed ensemble still visible today.
XIXe siècle
Addition of side chapels
Addition of side chapels XIXe siècle (≈ 1865)
Late architectural changes.
28 décembre 1928
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 28 décembre 1928 (≈ 1928)
Additional inventory.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Church: registration by decree of 28 December 1928
Key figures
Ligier Richier - Renaissance sculptor
Suspected author of the chair.
Maison de Luxembourg-Ligny - Noble Lorrain family
Burial preserved in the church.
Origin and history
The church of Notre-Dame-des-Vertus, located in Ligny-en-Barrois in the department of Meuse (Great East region), is a religious building dating back to the 13th and 17th centuries. Built in 1552 in a Gothic style marked by Renaissance influences, notably visible on its two side gates, it replaces a first parish church of the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, destroyed in 1544. This monument illustrates the architectural transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in this Lorraine region.
The church was added to the additional inventory of historic monuments on 28 December 1928, recognizing its heritage value. Its square bell tower, topped by a tower, houses a bronze bell dating back to 1505, reflecting the seniority of some of its elements. The stained glass windows, dating back to the 16th century, as well as the chair given to the school of Ligier Richier, renowned sculptor of the Lorraine Renaissance, highlight its rich historical furniture. A notable feature is the presence of a silk painting depicting Notre-Dame-des-Vertus, an object of local veneration whose origin and dating remain uncertain.
The site also preserves traces of the noble history of the region, with the burial of the House of Luxembourg-Ligny, an influential family in medieval Lorraine. Among the protected furniture items are liturgical objects (ostensors, reliquaries, bell of the year IX), as well as a large organ maintained by the association Les Amis de l'orgue. These characteristics make the church a spiritual, historical and artistic place rooted in the local heritage.
The lateral chapels and main gate, added in the 19th century, reflect later modifications, while the precise address (2 Passage Saint-Augustin) and its Insee code (55291) place it in the urban fabric of Ligny-en-Barrois. Owned by the municipality, the building remains a symbol of the religious and cultural continuity of this Meusian city, between medieval heritage and modern adaptations.
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