Cathedrals of France

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Orléans Cathedral

The French heroine Joan of Arc attended Mass in this 13th century cathedral on May 2, 1429 and the stained glass windows depicts the story.

Videos: Joan of Arc Festival >> 2

Each year on the last Sunday of May, Rouen hosts ‘The Joan of Arc Festival’ to commemorate the trial and execution of Joan of Arc. It was in Rouen on 30 May 1431 that Joan of Arc was tried by the English and executed by burning at the stake. One of her crimes was to have worn men’s clothing (trousers).

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Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe

UNESCO World HeritageSite - The church was begun in the mid 11th century and contains many beautiful 11/12th century murals which are still in a remarkable state of preservation. The bell tower spire is 80 metre high. Poitou is located mid way between Tours and Bordeaux in France.

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Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (Lourdes Basilica)

The Basilica is at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains in southwestern France, nestled between the spectacular mountain river, Gave de Pau, is Lourdes, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the World. Lourdes is the birthplace of St Bernadette to whom Our Lady appeared in 1858 near the Grotto of Massabielle (18 visions). Bernadette Soubirous is the saint of Lourdes. The Basilica of St Pius X is the world's largest underground church (capacity to hold 25,000 worshippers, 191 m long, 61 m wide). Drink from the spring that the Virgin directed Bernadette to locate at the base of the grotto, which has flowed uninterrupted since 1858. Wash yourself in the baths where hundreds of miraculous cures have taken place. Contemplate Christ's Passion as you pray the unique three-dimensional Stations of the Cross. Attend the blessing of the sick, and participate in nightly candlelight processions requested by Our Lady. Daily Mass, and Mass at the Grotto on Sunday will be followed by a video presentation telling the miraculous story of Lourdes. 6 million pilgrims come to Lourdes each year.

The clock plays the Ave Maria hourly, and chimes the hours with a 2-tonne bell called Jeanne-Alphonsine. The other bells in the tower are named Geneviève-Félicie (weighing 1800 kg), Hermine-Benoîte (1100 kg), and Cécile-Gastine (800 kg). Lourdes Basilica has a series of stained glass windows depicting various events in the story of Lourdes, and the clerestory windows depict Mary as the Second Eve.The Basilica tower spire has a height of 70 m. Basilica is 55 m long and 22 m wide located near Toulouse in France. video

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Sacred Heart Basilica, Paris