CHURCH OF SAINTE-MARIE
Neo-Gothic church from the 19th century, with a wooden statue of the Virgin carrying Jesus and the tombstone of Guillaume de Bretesches
The abbey of Sainte-Marie reached its peak in the 14th century. It then spread over 13 priories including Clion-sur-Mer, Pornic, Bourgneuf... But, following multiple conflicts and the progressive abandonment of the place by the monks, it was demolished in the 17th century. The monastery buildings occupied the present-day rectory of St Mary's as well as the gardens. Remains of the cloister and pieces of capitals could still be seen there at the beginning of the 20th century. The present neo-Gothic church dates back to the end of the 19th century; there is an old wooden statue of the Virgin carrying the infant Jesus. The statue of Our Lady, above the tabernacle, dates from the 14th-15th centuries. The Virgin's breast was hollowed out to form a monstrance. In the right branch of the transept, we can see the tombstone of William of Bretesches (14th century): carved in the round, under a trefoil arch, hands crossed on the chest, the knight's head rests on a cushion. At his side, the sword and the shield with the cross, probably in memory of the 8th crusade (1270).
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