Saint Michael's Church, Le May-sur-Èvre

47°08′15″N 0°53′31″W / 47.13750°N 0.89194°W / 47.13750; -0.89194

Saint Michael's Church in le May-sur-Èvre

Saint-Michael's Church of le May-sur-Èvre is located in les Mauges, area of the West of France, (Maine-et-Loire). Often named "the Giant of the Mauges" (French: "le Géant des Mauges") because of its great size, it is the most remarkable building of the town.

History

The church was built in the 15th century on the location of a previous priory chapel. Its walls, supported by large granite buttresses and its heavy steeple give the church of Saint-Michel a robust aspect, typical of the Ancien Régime time in les Mauges. After the War in the Vendée (1793 to 1796; French: "Guerre de Vendée"), it is one of the only religious building left in the 19th century.[1][2] Since 1973, it has been inscribed on the list of historical monuments of regional importance, (French: "inscription au titre des monuments historiques" formerly called "Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments Historiques").[3]

Saint-Michael killing the dragon

A statue of Saint-Michael killing the dragon can be seen in the church which is the work of the sculptor Pierre Biardeau, (1608-1671). Apart for the wings and the cross, the statue is made in only one piece of baked clay.[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.lemaysurevre.com/module-Contenus-viewpub-tid-2-pid-63.html
  2. ↑ http://www.ot-cholet.fr/content.cfm?id=887
  3. ↑ Monument historique
  4. ↑ http://www.lemaysurevre.com/module-Contenus-viewpub-tid-2-pid-63.html
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