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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Gilles de Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, located in the Vendée department in Pays de la Loire, finds its origins in the ninth century. Originally built for monks, probably linked to Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm or Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, it was originally a fortified church. This first building was largely destroyed during the Wars of Religion, with the exception of the bell tower and the north side of the nave, which still remain today. These remaining elements, bearing witness to medieval architecture, were listed as historical monuments by order of 29 October 1926.

Rebuilt in 1883 after the destruction, the church underwent two major restoration campaigns, in 1903 and then in 1977. Among its remarkable elements, a 17th century stained glass window, classified and declassified, commemorates Louis XIII's victory over the Protestant troops of Benjamin de Rohan de Soubise in 1622, illustrating an episode of the Wars of Religion in the vendean marshes. This stained glass window, located in the north side, reflects the historical and religious importance of the site in the conflicts that have marked the region.

Inside the church also houses a copy of the painting The Virgin with the Rabbit of Titian, painted in 1900 by Charles Atamian and donated by his family in 1993. An original cross path, composed of fourteen paintings and a lava plate fresco, was made in 1979 by local artist Henry Simon, adding a contemporary artistic dimension to this historical heritage. These elements bear witness to the cultural and religious vitality of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie throughout the centuries.

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