Cléry-Saint-André - Notre-Dame

The huge Gothic "Basilique Notre-Dame de Cléry-Saint-André" replaced a preceding church, destroyed by English troops during the Hundred Years' War in 1428.

The building was funded by Charles VII (aka "Charles the Victorious", "Charles le Bien Servi") and Louis XI (aka "Louis the Prudent", "Louis the Spider"). Louis XI choose this church as his burial ground.


The cenotaph of Louis XI is under renovation. The bronce cenotaph, that Louis XI once had commissioned himself, got melted by Huguenot troops in 1562.

The statue seen here today was created in 1622.

The grave is under the metal door in the foreground. When I visited this church in 2009, the door was open. Buried here are Louis XI, his second wife Charlotte of Savoy and the heart of Charles III (aka "Carolus Simplex").