Basilica of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (Basilique Sainte-Thérèse de Lisieux)
About Basilica of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (Basilique Sainte-Thérèse de Lisieux)
The Basilica of Saint Thérèse is France's second largest pilgrimage site after Lourdes, drawing over 600,000 visitors annually. Built between 1929 and 1954 in Romano-Byzantine style, this reinforced concrete and granite structure was commissioned by Pope Pius XI to honor Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun who died in obscurity at age 24 but became one of Catholicism's most beloved saints. The basilica measures 104 meters long with a dome reaching 95 meters high, and the interior features over 2,000 square meters of intricate mosaics depicting scenes from the saint's life. Visitors can explore the main nave designed to seat 4,000 pilgrims without columns blocking views, the marble-covered crypt with Art Deco mosaics containing relics of Thérèse's parents (the first married couple canonized together in Church history), and 18 side chapels dedicated to different nations that funded construction. The campanile houses 51 bells including a 9-ton bourdon, forming one of Europe's finest carillons. Entry is free, with extended summer hours. The basilica miraculously survived the 1944 bombardment that devastated much of Lisieux.
Interesting Facts
When Thérèse Martin died in 1897, only 30 people attended her funeral. Within 30 years, this massive basilica was being built in her honor, and today she is one of the most widely venerated saints in the world with her reliquary having traveled to nearly 70 countries since 1997.
In November 1929, Pope Pius XI personally directed the construction with an urgent order: 'Make it very big, very beautiful, and as quickly as possible!' The basilica was blessed just 8 years later in 1937, an remarkably fast construction timeline for such a massive project.
Local clergy initially opposed the basilica's construction, believing that devotion to Thérèse—which had been popularized among soldiers during World War I—would be a passing fad that would quickly fade. They were proven dramatically wrong as the site now attracts more visitors than any French religious site except Lourdes.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Avenue Jean XXIII, 14100 Lisieux, France
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