The Basilica of Our Lady of l'Épine (), also known as Notre-Dame de l'Épine, is a

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica (Greek Basiliké) was a large public building with multiple functions that was typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek Eas ...

in the small village of

L'Épine, Marne L'Épine () is a commune in the Marne department in the Grand Est region of north-eastern France. It is located east of Châlons-en-Champagne and about south-east of Reims, on the '' route nationale'' N3. See also * Notre-Dame de l'Épine ...

, near

Châlons-en-Champagne Châlons-en-Champagne () is a city in the Grand Est region of France. It is the capital of the Departments of France, department of Marne (department), Marne, despite being only a quarter the size of the city of Reims. Formerly called Châlons ...

and

Verdun Verdun ( , ; ; ; official name before 1970: Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city in the Meuse (department), Meuse departments of France, department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department. In 843, the Treaty of V ...

. It is a major masterpiece in the

Flamboyant Flamboyant () is a lavishly-decorated style of Gothic architecture that appeared in France and Spain in the 15th century, and lasted until the mid-sixteenth century and the beginning of the Renaissance.Encyclopedia Britannica, "Flamboyant style ...

Gothic style.

History

Started around 1405-1406, construction lasted until 1527. Elevated to a basilica from 1914, Notre-Dame-de-l'Épine takes its name from the devotion given to a statue of the Virgin holding the Child Jesus. According to a legend from the 17th century that has since evolved, the statue was found by shepherds in the Middle Ages in a burning thorn bush. The basilica has the dimensions of a

cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

and is in the Gothic architectural tradition. The façade has three portals and is crowned with two spires. The right spire is high. The left spire was leveled in 1798 to allow the installation of a

Claude Chappe Claude Chappe (; 25 December 1763 – 23 January 1805) was a French inventor who in 1792 demonstrated a practical semaphore line, semaphore system that eventually spanned all of France. His system consisted of a series of towers, each within l ...

telegraph. It was rebuilt in 1868. The basilica was classified a historic monument in 1840. In 1998 it was registered on the World Heritage List by UNESCO under the title of "roads to St Jacques de Compostela in France". Notre-Dame de l'Épine has always struck travelers and inspired writers, especially

Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo, vicomte Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romanticism, Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, journalist, human rights activist and politician. His most famous works are the novels ''The Hunchbac ...

Alexandre Dumas Alexandre Dumas (born Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas , was a French novelist and playwright. His works have been translated into many languages and he is one of the mos ...

Joris-Karl Huysmans Charles-Marie-Georges Huysmans (, ; 5 February 1848 – 12 May 1907) was a French novelist and art critic who published his works as Joris-Karl Huysmans (, variably abbreviated as J. K. or J.-K.). He is most famous for the novel (1884, pub ...

Paul Claudel Paul Claudel (; 6 August 1868 – 23 February 1955) was a French poet, dramatist and diplomat, and the younger brother of the sculptor Camille Claudel. He was most famous for his verse dramas, which often convey his devout Catholicism. Early lif ...

and Paul Fort.

Furnishings

The basilica has remarkable gargoyles. Inside is a

rood screen The rood screen (also choir screen, chancel screen, or jubé) is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, o ...

of the late 15th century, whose right arcade houses the statue of the Virgin for which this basilica is famous. Statues include the Venerated Virgin (about 1300), seated virgin (15th century) and St. Jacques in wood (17th century). The altars date from 1542, and the triumph

crucifix A crucifix (from the Latin meaning '(one) fixed to a cross') is a cross with an image of Jesus on it, as distinct from a bare cross. The representation of Jesus himself on the cross is referred to in English as the (Latin for 'body'). The cru ...

from the 16th century. The tribune and organ case are 16th century. The tribune is decorated with eight apostles and seven pagan gods (inscriptions added in 1825 by Father Brisson). The choir organ is from Merklin. Stained glass is from the 19th and 20th centuries, mainly manufactured by the Champigneulle house.

Gallery

ND Epine 4.jpg, Nave L'epine orgel.jpg, Pipe organ L'epine madonna.jpg, Venerated Virgin (about 1300) M 70 page 14 l'Épine.jpg, Aerial view (1914). Basilique Notre Dame de L'Épine 19.JPG, Lamentation of Christ Basilique Notre Dame de L'Épine 25.JPG, Procession in stained glass Basilique Notre Dame de L'Épine 26.JPG, Wall painting ND Epine gargouilles15.jpg, Gargoyle L'epine portal.jpg, Main portal ND Epine gargouilles14.jpg, Man and the dragon? Basilique Notre Dame de L'Épine 16.JPG, Illumination L'epine main altar.jpg, Main altar L'epine basilica inscription stone.jpg, Relief and inscription stone in the south facade L'epine basilica portal inscription.jpg, Inscription at the main portal L'Épine Unesco plaque.jpg, Appointment to UNESCO World Heritage Site

References

Citations Sources * * *

External links

Page du télégraphe Chappe
{{DEFAULTSORT:Notre-Dame de l'Epine, Basilique Flamboyant Gothic Gothic architecture in France Churches in Marne (department) World Heritage Sites in France Basilica churches in France Churches completed in 1527