Notre-Dame Church
About Notre-Dame Church
The Notre-Dame Church in Saint-Lô is a Gothic Flamboyant church built over four centuries (1280s-1685) that now serves as a war memorial. The church was nearly 50% destroyed on July 18, 1944, when its north tower collapsed during WWII bombing—Saint-Lô itself was 95% destroyed and became known as the "Capital of Ruins." Rather than fully restoring the Gothic facade, architect Yves-Marie Froidevaux deliberately created a green schist closure (1953-1974) as a permanent peace memorial, calling it "the wounded cathedral." Visitors can see 15th-16th century stained glass windows that survived because they were removed during the war, including the Royal Window donated by King Louis XI around 1470. The church features one of only three exterior stone pulpits in France, described and sketched by Victor Hugo. An unexploded shell remains embedded in the stonework as a visible reminder of 1944. The building is open daily for free visits, though it remains an active parish church with regular Mass services.
Interesting Facts
The name 'Capital of Ruins' was given to Saint-Lô by Irish writer Samuel Beckett, who worked at the Irish Red Cross hospital in the town after its liberation. He described the devastation in his 1946 essay 'The Capital of the Ruins,' witnessing firsthand a city where only 169 buildings remained usable out of over 3,000.
On June 6, 1944, Allied bombers dropped leaflets warning civilians to evacuate Saint-Lô, but strong winds blew most of them to neighboring towns. That evening at 8 PM, bombing began, and over 800 civilians were killed—nearly 8% of the population of 10,000. The city wasn't liberated until July 18, after fierce fighting.
A 17th-century copper rooster weathervane atop the south tower contained a small ampoule with a copy of the 1685 Edict of Fontainebleau authorizing the destruction of Saint-Lô's Protestant temple. This grim historical document was sealed inside the religious symbol as a hidden reminder of the town's religious conflicts.
Saint Jean Eudes, now a canonized saint, preached from the church's rare exterior pulpit in 1642, 1663, and 1675-76. Saint Louis-Marie Grignon de Montfort, another canonized figure, preached there in 1714. The pulpit was originally used for public proclamations of civil law acts by the Bishop of Coutances.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Place Notre-Dame, 50000 Saint-Lô, France
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