Notre-Dame de l'Épine Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Basilique Notre-Dame de l'Épine
Façade of the Basilica
Basilique Notre-Dame de l'Épine Location in France
48°58′38″N 4°28′13″E / 48.97709°N 4.470408°E / 48.97709; 4.470408
Location	L'Épine
Country	France
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Founded	1405
Architecture
Heritage designation	Part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France UNESCO WHS
Architectural type	church
Style	Gothic Flamboyant
Administration
Diocese	Châlons

The Basilica of Our Lady of l'Épine (also called Notre-Dame de l'Épine) is a beautiful Roman Catholic church. It is located in the small village of L'Épine, Marne in France. This village is close to the cities of Châlons-en-Champagne and Verdun. The basilica is a famous example of the Flamboyant Gothic style.

History of the Basilica
Inside the Basilica: Furnishings and Art
Gallery
See also

History of the Basilica

The building of the basilica started around 1405 or 1406. It took a long time to finish, finally being completed in 1527. In 1914, this church was given the special title of a basilica.

How the Basilica Got Its Name

The basilica is named after a statue of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. People have always shown great respect for this statue. A legend from the 1600s says that shepherds found the statue in the Middle Ages. They discovered it in a thorn bush that seemed to be on fire.

Design and Features

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de l'Épine is very large, almost the size of a cathedral. It was built in the traditional Gothic style. The front of the basilica has three main entrances, called portals. It also has two tall spires at the top. The spire on the right side is about 55 meters (180 feet) tall.

The spire on the left side was taken down in 1798. This was done to make space for a Claude Chappe telegraph. A telegraph was a system used to send messages over long distances. The left spire was later rebuilt in 1868.

Important Recognition

In 1840, the basilica was officially recognized as a historic monument. This means it is a very important old building. In 1998, UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List. It is part of the "Roads to St Jacques de Compostela in France." These are old pilgrimage routes. Many famous writers have been inspired by Notre-Dame de l'Épine. These include Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, and Paul Claudel.

Inside the Basilica: Furnishings and Art

The basilica has many interesting features inside.

Unique Decorations

You can see remarkable gargoyles on the outside of the building. These are carved stone figures that often act as waterspouts. Inside, there is a beautiful rood screen from the late 1400s. This is a decorative screen that separates parts of the church. The famous statue of the Virgin Mary is kept in an archway on the right side of this screen.

Statues and Altars

The basilica is home to several old statues. These include:

The Venerated Virgin statue, made around 1300.
A seated Virgin statue from the 1400s.
A wooden statue of Saint Jacques from the 1600s.

The altars inside the church were made in 1542. There is also a large crucifix from the 1500s. This crucifix shows Jesus on the cross.

Organs and Stained Glass

The church has a special platform called a tribune. It holds the organ case, both from the 1500s. The tribune is decorated with carvings of eight apostles. It also has carvings of seven ancient pagan gods. These god names were added in 1825 by a priest named Father Brisson. The choir organ was made by Merklin. The beautiful stained glass windows are from the 1800s and 1900s. Most of them were made by the Champigneulle company.