This operation is co-funded by the European Union. Europe invests in rural areas. rural in invests Europe Union. European the by co-funded is operation This

The procession in front of the Basilica, for the Notre-Dame de Cléry festival, in 1903. in festival, Cléry de Notre-Dame the for Basilica, the of front in procession The

day of Nativity of Mary, and the following Sunday. following the and Mary, of Nativity of day restored in 1875. in restored

Basilica. Still today, annual pilgrimages take place on 8th September, the the September, 8th on place take pilgrimages annual today, Still Basilica. the early 17th century and was was and century 17th early the

most luxurious, the “auberge de la Belle Autruche”, is opposite the the opposite is Autruche”, Belle la de “auberge the luxurious, most currently in the choir dates from from dates choir the in currently

There are many hotels along the main road to welcome pilgrims. The The pilgrims. welcome to road main the along hotels many are There Protestants in 1562. The one one The 1562. in Protestants is a trademark, co-owned by Region Centre-Val de Loire and Pays de la Loire - www.valdeloire-france.com - Loire la de Pays and Loire de Centre-Val Region by co-owned trademark, a is

1428, but was destroyed by the the by destroyed was but 1428, Pilgrimage to Notre-Dame to Pilgrimage

English troops the first time in in time first the troops English

in 1280, managed to escape the the escape to managed 1280, in

Burgundy in Montlhéry. in Burgundy The original statue, discovered discovered statue, original The

wish was granted once again in 1465 against the Dukes of Brittany and and Brittany of Dukes the against 1465 in again once granted was wish

THE VIRGIN MARY VIRGIN THE

Patrimoine et Inventaire Robert Malnoury (statue de Saint-Jacques / statue de la Vierge). Vierge). la de statue / Saint-Jacques de (statue Malnoury Robert Inventaire et Patrimoine

to devote his money to the place if he won the battle, and he did. His His did. he and battle, the won he if place the to money his devote to

Photographic credits: Photographic V. Bauza, J. Bourgoin, G. Maresse, Région Centre-Val de Loire Service Service Loire de Centre-Val Région Maresse, G. Bourgoin, J. Bauza, V.

THE STATUE OF OF STATUE THE

August 1443, during the siege of Dieppe by the English, he promised promised he English, the by Dieppe of siege the during 1443, August

With thanks to thanks With C. Boissay, Père O. de Scitivaux, mairie de Beaugency et de Meung-sur-Loire. de et Beaugency de mairie Scitivaux, de O. Père Boissay, C.

During his life, Louis XI twice made promises to the Virgin of Cléry. In In Cléry. of Virgin the to promises made twice XI Louis life, his During Print: Imprimerie MAG Imprimerie

Graphic design: design: Graphic O N. Gaultier, Mézières-lez-Cléry Gaultier, N.

U

The vows of Louis XI to the Virgin the to XI Louis of vows The

Written by: Written V. Marie, Office de Tourisme des Terres du Val de Loire de Val du Terres des Tourisme de Office Marie, V. R

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Notre-Dame Basilica and the ancient heritage of Cléry. of heritage ancient the and Basilica Notre-Dame L

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E H discover the pretty viewpoints of viewpoints pretty the discover

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“Balade dans Cléry / Walk in Cléry” in Walk / Cléry dans “Balade ; ; brochure the for Ask

staircase with open well. open with staircase

+33 (0)2 38 44 32 28 32 44 38 (0)2 +33

spiral splendid the XI, Louis of

Châteaudun, the other residence of Dunois. of residence other the Châteaudun,

+33 (0) 2 38 45 94 33 33 94 45 38 2 (0) +33

school), embellished the collegiate and chose to be buried there. buried be to chose and collegiate the embellished school),

September 1483. His second wife, Charlotte of Savoy, joined him a few months later. months few a him joined Savoy, of Charlotte wife, second His 1483. September

tomb and oratory the

This chapel, which has ingenious vaulting, is reminiscent of that of of that of reminiscent is vaulting, ingenious has which chapel, This

Booking and prices: and Booking The tomb is accessed via a small staircase with six steps. Louis XI was buried on 7th 7th on buried was XI Louis steps. six with staircase small a via accessed is tomb The

his reign. He had a house built (southern side, the current Notre-Dame Notre-Dame current the side, (southern built house a had He reign. his

treasures of the Basilica: Basilica: the of treasures

of a chapel dedicated to Saint John, where he was buried in 1468. 1468. in buried was he where John, Saint to dedicated chapel a of

to the 30th of september september of 30th the to

The tomb of Louis XI XI Louis of tomb The

Guided tour only tour Guided

attachment to the Virgin Mary and to Cléry became stronger throughout throughout stronger became Cléry to and Mary Virgin the to attachment

which will reveal the hidden hidden the reveal will which

6 6 From 1464, Dunois commissioned the building, in the southern aisle, aisle, southern the in building, the commissioned Dunois 1464, From may of 1st the From

territories from his rivals and fundamentally modernised the kingdom. His His kingdom. the modernised fundamentally and rivals his from territories

Take part in our guided tours tours guided our in part Take

The Dunois Family Chapel Family Dunois The

Years’ War. When he became king in 1461, he restored peace, took back the the back took peace, restored he 1461, in king became he When War. Years’

GUIDED TOURS GUIDED

Louis XI was born in 1423 in Bourges, in the darkest hour of the Hundred Hundred the of hour darkest the in Bourges, in 1423 in born was XI Louis

his wife, Marie of Harcourt and their descendants. Left, Dunois, right, Joan of Arc. of Joan right, Dunois, Left, descendants. their and Harcourt of Marie wife, his

LOUIS XI LOUIS

+33(0)2 38 45 94 33 33 94 45 38 +33(0)2 • [email protected] •

These stained glass windows decorate the chapel. Dunois is buried here, next to to next here, buried is Dunois chapel. the decorate windows glass stained These

74 bis, rue du Maréchal Foch - 45370 Cléry-Saint-André 45370 - Foch Maréchal du rue bis, 74

Office de Tourisme des Terres du Val de Loire de Val du Terres des Tourisme de Office tomb of Louis XI. The slightly off-centre cenotaph faces the Virgin Mary. Virgin the faces cenotaph off-centre slightly The XI. Louis of tomb

cenotaph to replace the one in bronze destroyed during the wars of religion on the the on religion of wars the during destroyed bronze in one the replace to cenotaph

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13 13

Louis XIII commissioned the Orléans artist, Michel Bourdin, to create a marble marble a create to Bourdin, Michel artist, Orléans the commissioned XIII Louis www.entre-orleans-et-chambord.com www.entre-orleans-et-chambord.com

The cenotaph of Louis XI Louis of cenotaph The

English version. English

the by followed French, in

former sacristy (southern aisle), aisle), (southern sacristy former .

Film shown continually in the the in continually shown Film

the bell tower, the result of pillaging by the English. the by pillaging of result the tower, bell the

April 1429. All she saw of the collegiate were the ruins, dominated by by dominated ruins, the were collegiate the of saw she All 1429. April Flamboyant Gothic style. Gothic Flamboyant

Joan of Arc, on her way to Orléans with Dunois, stopped at Cléry in in Cléry at stopped Dunois, with Orléans to way her on Arc, of Joan the of beauty majestic

Cléry. Very attached to the collegiate, Dunois began to rebuild it in 1444. in it rebuild to began Dunois collegiate, the to attached Very Cléry. the and details inaccessible ground of the nave. the of ground

certainly because of him that Louis XI was devoted to Notre-Dame de de Notre-Dame to devoted was XI Louis that him of because certainly architecture to reveal the most most the reveal to architecture Valois not to be buried at Saint-Denis, as is tradition. His vault is in the the in is vault His tradition. is as Saint-Denis, at buried be to not Valois

1439 and then Lord of Cléry. He fought alongside Louis XI in Dieppe. It is is It Dieppe. in XI Louis alongside fought He Cléry. of Lord then and 1439 it gets you up close to the the to close up you gets it for Louis XI to have his tomb. He is the only king from the house of the the of house the from king only the is He tomb. his have to XI Louis for

Orléans, known as the ‘Bastard of Orléans’, became Count of Dunois in in Dunois of Count became Orléans’, of ‘Bastard the as known Orléans, drones. In less than 5 minutes, minutes, 5 than less In drones. lacking audacity in politics, Notre-Dame de Cléry was a natural choice choice natural a was Cléry de Notre-Dame politics, in audacity lacking

The bastard nephew of Charles VI and son of Louis of Orléans, Jean of of Jean Orléans, of Louis of son and VI Charles of nephew bastard The film, produced with the use of of use the with produced film, Very attached to the Loire Valley and the collegiate, and certainly not not certainly and collegiate, the and Valley Loire the to attached Very

key words to describe this this describe to words key

DUNOIS & JOAN OF ARC OF JOAN & DUNOIS

An innovative king innovative An

the are thrills and Emotions

an aerial view of the architecture! architecture! the of view aerial an 5 5

GREAT NAMES GREAT

IN HISTORY IN

« BASILICA » : » BASILICA «

THE FILM FILM THE

View of the choir from the skylight of the oratory. the of skylight the from choir the of View On the vault, the fine ribs form two scallops. two form ribs fine the vault, the On

BETWEEN ORLEANS & CHAMBORD oratory. the into light let seat window a with windows

Like Louis XI, the room is sober: in the middle is a stately fireplace; on either side, two two side, either on fireplace; stately a is middle the in sober: is room the XI, Louis Like

the skylight overlooking the choir. the overlooking skylight the

VISIT from services attend to came XI Louis that room small this in was it floor:

9 9 Above the sacristy’s portal, a discreet skylight reveals the presence of a a of presence the reveals skylight discreet a portal, sacristy’s the Above

THE MASTERPIECE

THE ORATORY ORATORY THE

OF A VISIONARY KING only tour Guided

starting in 1482. in starting

to 1472. At the request of Louis XI, the nave was extended with a further three bays bays three further a with extended was nave the XI, Louis of request the At 1472. to

The nave consists of seven bays. The first four starting from the choir were built prior prior built were choir the from starting four first The bays. seven of consists nave The

Guided tour only only tour Guided stairway leads to the oratory. the to leads stairway

and gives it unusual lightness. The The lightness. unusual it gives and

frees it of any superfluous support support superfluous any of it frees

Andrew, 1891. Andrew,

well, an architectural feat which which feat architectural an well, Stained glass window of Saint James and Saint Saint and James Saint of window glass Stained

was the dean of the collegiate. the of dean the was a spiral staircase with an open open an with staircase spiral a

joined by his brother Gilles, who who Gilles, brother his by joined sacristy (Chapel of Villequier) hides hides Villequier) of (Chapel sacristy

to show off his talents at Cléry, Cléry, at talents his off show to current the of door the Behind

this experience, he then came came then he experience, this

OF THE BASILICA THE OF

to work at Chambord. Based on on Based Chambord. at work to

HIDDEN TREASURE TREASURE HIDDEN

missioned by Francis 1 of France France of 1 Francis by missioned

- com was Italy, to him taken had THE STAIRCASE: THE

century. François, whose travels travels whose François, century.

décor is typical of the 16th 16th the of typical is décor

funerary chapel, of which the the which of chapel, funerary

behind this richly decorated decorated richly this behind

4 The Pontbriand brothers are are brothers Pontbriand The

CHAMBORD

A BUILDER FROM FROM BUILDER A

OF WORK THE nave is even more surprising. more even is nave

designs, lead the gaze directly upwards to the vault. The height of the the of height The vault. the to upwards directly gaze the lead designs,

CHAPEL:

FREE ENTRY simplified with ribs arch and windows clerestory gallery), (without wall

JAMES’ SAINT

Every day blind a arcades, large impact: full its architecture the give to decoration,

The walls and the vaults of this central nave are deliberately bare of of bare deliberately are nave central this of vaults the and walls The

from 9am 3

wood, 16th century. 16th wood,

to 6.30pm NAVE THE

Statue of Saint James in coloured coloured in James Saint of Statue

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S P I L E I T Basilica of Notre-Dame de Cléry, C S Notre-Dame de Cléry Basilica A part of is testimony to the quality of the architectural heritage of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO world heritage site. H A* IST ILIC OR AS Y O A B F A INTO CHAPE THAT GREW L ilgrimage. that welcomes a p FROM THE CHAPEL o a religious building THE COLLEGIATE AFTER LOUIS XI * Basilica: honorary title granted by the Pope t TO THE FIRST CHURCH Embellishments continued between 1515 and 1521 with the addition DIRECTION OF VISIT RECOMMENDED USING THE LECTERNS of three chapels: Saint Sauveur chapel to the north (destroyed), Saint The discovery of a statue of Mary in 1280, in the parish of Saint-André- D 951 James’ chapel and Saint Barbara’s chapel to the south . In the lez-Cléry, was the start of what would later become the Notre-Dame G Longueville chapel 4 10 second half of the 16th century, favours from the king were few and far Basilica. H The southern side portal between: Henry II made a gift of 42 choir stalls, while Henry III offered In a small chapel in which the statue is housed, pilgrims gather to pay DON’T MISS ALSO I Villequier chapel - current the central stained glass window of the choir . their respects to the Virgin of Cléry, who has miraculous powers. 14 sacristy A The western facade Ransacked once in 1562 during the wars of religion, and again during In 1302, Simon de Melun, Seigneur of La Salle à Cléry, founded a TOURIST the Revolution, the chapter was dissolved in 1790 after falling into cathedral chapter and the collegiate of Cléry. A few years later, Philip IV J “Library” (upstairs) B Historic panels of the Basilica OFFICE destitution. Between 1804 and 1873, a restoration campaign was of France undertook construction of a larger church. It was Philip VI K Saint Barbara’s Chapel The chevet C B undertaken. The architectural interest of the collegiate was recognised from the House of Valois who laid the first stone in 1339, while the L Saint Andrew’s altar D Way of Saint James with the “Historic Monument” label in 1840. In 1894, Pope Leo XIII pilgrimage intensified. B Northern side portal M Stations of the cross marker point granted it the title of Basilica. Still today, the building undergoes C The bell tower N Tomb of Louis XI E The house of Louis XI Passage Dunois frequent restoration projects. THE COLLEGIATE IN TURMOIL D Notre-Dame de Cléry: a pilgrimage O Choir and its decoration The Hundred Years’ War reached Beaugency, where Salisbury settled in site and royal building 1421 with his troops. This troubled climate of the first years of the reign E Saint James’ chapel Recommended public entrance and of Charles VII led to the words of the famous “Carillon de Vendôme”. In F Chapter house ?, then sacristy disabled access 1428, the English ravaged the collegiate, leaving just the bell tower 2 . Film « BASILICA » M THE RECONSTRUCTION B Dunois, Seigneur of Beaugency, initiated the collegiate’s reconstruction in 1444. In 1449, the nave was ready for the roof and the northern portal C was finished. To the south, the first chapel was built in around 1454. N André de Villequier, chief guard of Charles VII, was buried there one C year later 8 . Dunois then ordered a funerary chapel, building of which L began in 1464 6 . D LOUIS XI’S DEVOTION D TO NOTRE-DAME DE CLÉRY A O From 1459, Louis XI multiplied his donations. In 1465 he went to Cléry K following the victory of Monthléry I THE BASILICA and proclaimed the building a “royal H IN A FEW FIGURES chapel” in 1467. He chose the colle- F G J At the time of the giate for his tomb and had a vault dug I X x i u o L e u R E Flamboyant Gothic style, the Way of Saint James marker point, into the ground. He ordered a ceno- Basilica was in keeping with made by Orléans artist Yann Hervis D taph representing him on his knees the tradition of buildings 13 and extended the nave with three Film with surprising dimensions: bays, starting in 1482. It was not room A SEVENTY-DAY finished when he died in 1483. 78 M LONG WALK BETWEEN Passage Cachon 30 CLERESTORY WINDOWS 23 M WIDE CLÉRY AND 27 M UNDER THE VAULT SANTIAGA DE 25 FLYING BUTTRESSES E COMPOSTELA Pilgrims who used the “chemin de Tours” used to stop in Cléry. BETWEEN ORLÉANS MASTERPIECE OF THE FLAMBOYANT They would enter via the northern porch, which until 1820 was AND CHAMBORD… separated from the main building. SYMMETRY AND FANTASY GOTHIC STYLE Pious medallions and candles were sold under this porch, which was The outside of the Basilica features a series of buttresses, flying VISIT BEAUGENCY AND MEUNG-SUR-LOIRE, called “candle sellers’ gate. Its rich buttresses and clerestory windows, the regularity of which is broken TWO MEDIEVAL CITIES, TO DISCOVER OTHER decoration contrasts with that only by the primitive bell tower and a few chapels. The symmetry of MUST-SEE RELIGIOUS HERITAGE of the southern portal, access to these elements and the purity of their lines are the reflection of rigour which was for the canons only. NOTRE-DAME ABBEY and master in the art of sculpting stone. IN BEAUGENCY This building, which dates back to the late 11th century and has the Loire as a backdrop, was restored in the 17th century after the wars of religion. The chevet and the story- telling capitals, the discreetly decorated portal, the barely protruding transept and THE BELLTOWER, the arches of the choir are witnesses to a GUARDIAN particular Romanesque architecture. OF THE SITE Information from the Tourist Office in Beaugency 2 The only witness of the first 3 place du Dr Hyvernaud Discreet elements of fantasy are expressed in the decoration of stones, the stained 14th-century church, the bell tower is 45190 Beaugency • +33 (0)2 38 44 54 42 glass windows or the presence of a few sculpted figures, placed on the buttresses. adjoined to the northern facade. Its robust and sober silhouette contrasts Don’t miss Beaugency castle, the splendid residence of Dunois, THE WESTERN with the flamboyant style of the and in July/August, the surprising Basilica. “plant maze” at Beaugency. FACADE A vaulted guard room communicates s Tour of the town organised by A Around thirty years via a door with the northern aisle. The THE CHIME the Tourist Office from 1st July separate the construction upper two floors, which open onto to 31st August, Thursday at 10am. Make sure you’re on time to hear of the western facade the outside with a simple arrow slit, the bell chime every day at 7.05am, (around 1483) and the tran- lead to the upper room which houses 12.05pm and 7.05pm. “My friends, SAINT-LIPHARD sept doors. The decora- the bells. what is left, to the Dauphin, so kind? COLLEGIATE IN tions in the Flamboyant Orléans, Beaugency, Notre-Dame Gothic style are widely de Cléry, Vendôme, Vendôme” are MEUNG-SUR-LOIRE used on the tympana and words which depict the sad reality The magnificent 11th-century bell tower, the moulding arches on the of the Dauphin Charles in 1420. crowned with a 13th-century stone spire, three portals. stands close to the castle. The transept and the choir, the ends of which end THE MIDDAY ANGELUS in an apse, are unique in the region. Louis XI, a pioneering king, genera- Information from the Tourist Office lised the Midday Angelus prayer all in Meung-sur-Loire over France in 1471. Moulin de la Poterne, 1 rue Emmanuel Troulet 45130 Meung-sur-Loire • +33 (0)2 38 44 32 28

Don’t miss Meung-sur-Loire castle, residence of the Bishops of Orléans, the «Roquelin” gardens, “Arboretum d’Ilex” and the toue cabaneé traditional river fishing boat. The last floor of the tower opens with twin openings through which the sound of THE CHEVET s Southern portal Northern portal Tour of the town organised by the bells filters. A spire built in 1487 once the Tourist Office from 1st July C Its beauty is best discovered from the town hall to 31st August, Wednesday at 10am. The swallows, whose nests are in the portal arches, are perfectly in line with the topped the bell tower. It collapsed in 1710 courtyard. An aisle which goes behind the chevet flamboyant décor. following a storm. leads to the former perimeter wall.