General Information
| Name in local language: | Église Saint-Michel-des-Lions |
|---|---|
| Beginning of works: | 14th century |
| Completion: | 16th century |
| Status: | in use |
Project Type
| Function / usage: |
Church |
|---|---|
| Material: |
Masonry structure |
| Architectural style: |
Gothic |
| Structure: |
Rib vault |
Awards and Distinctions
| 1909 |
for registered users |
|---|
Location
| Location: |
Limoges, Haute-Vienne (87), Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: | 45° 49' 50.16" N 1° 15' 24.98" E |
Technical Information
There currently is no technical data available.
Excerpt from Wikipedia
The church of Saint Michel des Lions (French: église Saint-Michel-des-Lions; Limousin Occitan: egleisa de Sent Micheu daus Lions) is one the main churches in Limoges, Haute-Vienne, France. It derives its name from the two Gallo-Roman stone lions that stand guard at the entrance of the building.
History
Around 630, Saint Loup, bishop of Limoges, bestowed St. Michel's Chapel to the canons of St. Martial. The church was destroyed by two successive fires in 1123 and 1147 and was re-built by monk Pierre de Verteuil. It was consecrated in 1213. But the building collapsed and the foundation stone of another church was laid in 1364. Only two chapels and some walls remain from the church of 1364. In 1552, the church was extended and a new bay with glass walls were added to the west side. Other works were made in the following centuries, mainly on the bell tower in 1604, 1754, 1810, ect.
Description
This Gothic church from the 14th and 16th centuries has a typical Limousin bell tower (as the Limoges Cathedral) topped by a metal ball.
In 1810, lighting stroke the bell tower and damaged the building. The soldier in charge of the renovation of the spire wanted to install a ball atop the bell tower "to facilitate triangulation operations and geodetic measures". This ball weighs 600 kg and is 2 meters wide. Indeed, the ball endangered the building because it had a high wind factor. Renovation works were launched and the presence of the ball was controversial among the inhabitants. With the authorization of the Ministry of Fine Arts, a new ball was supposed to replace the older one, but the First World War broke out. The new copper ball was finally installed after the end of the War. It stands next to the weathercock which has never been moved since 1824.
The church was listed as a Historic Monument in 1909.
Interior
The church hosts the relics of Saint Martial, whose worship is organised by the brotherhoods Grande confrérie de saint Martial and the Confrérie des Porteurs de la Châsse. Besides, the church hosts the relics of Saint Loup and Saint Valerie, to which two other brotherhoods are dedicated. These relics are preserved in a 19th-century altarpiece that celebrates the miracles of Saint Martial.
Text imported from Wikipedia article "Church of St. Michel des Lions" and modified on April 11, 2020 according to the CC-BY-SA 4.0 International license.
Participants
Currently there is no information available about persons or companies having participated in this project.
Relevant Web Sites
Relevant Publications
- (1921): Eglise Saint-Michel-des-Lions. Presented at: Session. Congrès archéologique de France vol. 84 (1921), pp. 40-43.
- (1997): Limousin gothique. Les édifices religieux. Picard Editeur, Paris (France), pp. 247-255.
- About this
data sheet - Structure-ID
20022155 - Published on:
09/07/2006 - Last updated on:
08/08/2022
