Basilica of Our Lady, Cléry

The Basilica of Our Lady is a Gothic church rising from the Loire Valley with a distinctive square bell tower and fine stonework dating to the 15th century. The building displays typical Gothic features such as pointed arches, buttresses, and decorated facades.

A shepherd discovered a statue of the Virgin Mary at this location in 1280, establishing the sacred character of the site. King Philip IV then commissioned a collegiate church, which English forces later destroyed during the Hundred Years War.

The basilica serves as an important pilgrimage site where the faithful have honored the Virgin Mary for centuries. Visitors come to pray or experience the spiritual character of this religious space.

Visitors can enter the basilica throughout the year, with the interior easily accessible from outside the building. Special services take place on feast days, particularly on July 11 for the celebration of Our Lady of Cléry.

The bell tower is the sole surviving element from the original church destroyed by English forces in 1428. These remains demonstrate the resilience of the structure and were later incorporated into the new Gothic construction.