Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: L’Épine

Since the 13th century a small church, dedicated to the Virgin, was known here, that developed into a place of pilgrimage. Rich donations made the erection of the church seen today possible. The construction started in 1405 and was completed in 1527. Basilique Notre-Dame, located in a village (pop. ~600), is about 59 metres long. There is a replica of the miraculous statue of the Virgin. According to a legend the statue was found by shepherds in the Middle Ages in a burning thorn bush. The basilica´s inner and outer walls are dotted with names. Pilgrims have carved in these graffiti over centuries.

Since the 13th century a small church, dedicated to the Virgin, was known here, that developed into a place of pilgrimage. Rich donations made the erection of the church seen today possible. The construction started in 1405 and was completed in 1527. Basilique Notre-Dame, located in a village (pop. ~600), is about 59 metres long. There is a replica of the miraculous statue of the Virgin. According to a legend the statue was found by shepherds in the Middle Ages in a burning thorn bush. And this "Mise au tombeau". This 16th-century ensemble was moved to the basilica from a former convent in Châlons-en-Champagne.

Since the 13th century a small church, dedicated to the Virgin, was known here, that developed into a place of pilgrimage. Rich donations made the erection of the church seen today possible. The construction started in 1405 and was completed in 1527. Basilique Notre-Dame, located in a village (pop. ~600), is about 59 metres long. Here is the nave. On the 17th-century rod screen is the red and yellow "umbraculum", one of the symbols bestowed by the pope, when he elevated the church to the rank of a "basilica minor". Below is a replica of the miraculous statue of the Virgin. According to a legend the statue was found by shepherds in the Middle Ages in a burning thorn bush.

Since the 13th century a small church, dedicated to the Virgin, was known here, that developed into a place of pilgrimage. Rich donations made the erection of the church seen today possible. The construction started in 1405 and was completed in 1527. Basilique Notre-Dame has highly interesting and superb gargoyles.

Since the 13th century a small church, dedicated to the Virgin, was known here, that developed into a place of pilgrimage. Rich donations made the erection of the church seen today possible. The construction started in 1405 and was completed in 1527. Basilique Notre-Dame has highly interesting and superb gargoyles.

Since the 13th century a small church, dedicated to the Virgin, was known here, that developed into a place of pilgrimage. Rich donations made the erection of the church seen today possible. The construction started in 1405 and was completed in 1527. Basilique Notre-Dame has highly interesting and superb gargoyles.

Since the 13th century a small church, dedicated to the Virgin, was known here, that developed into a place of pilgrimage. Rich donations made the erection of the church seen today possible. The construction started in 1405 and was completed in 1527. The portals got vandalized and the large statues were destroyed during the French Revolution.

In 2009 I had left Chalons-en-Champagne very early morning and found "Notre-Dame-de-l'Épine" in the middle of nowhere. In a village with a population of a couple of hundreds. Now I knew about the flamboyant Gothic basilica - and it is still baffling to approach it. Since the 13th century a small church, dedicated to the Virgin, was known here, that developed into a place of pilgrimage. Rich donations made the erection of the church seen today possible. The construction started in 1405 and was completed in 1527. The large statues of the portals were destroyed during the French Revolution. At that time both towers had the same height of 55 metres but the spire of the northern tower was demolished in 1789 in order to build an optical telegraph for the Strasbourg-Paris route. The tower was rebuilt in 1868. Fortunately, the operators of the telegraph had stored most of the spire. So only one floor was lost