Basilique Notre-Dame d'Espérance de Saint-Brieuc, basilica located in Côtes-d'Armor, in France
The basilique Notre-Dame d'Espérance de Saint-Brieuc is a Gothic Revival church built of pale stone between 1859 and 1877 to plans by Paul-Marie Prud'homme. Its Latin-cross plan runs 51 metres, with a three-aisled interior 13.5 metres high, a five-sided apse with ambulatory and stained-glass windows. The facade has a square tower with a rose window, statues in niches and a stone crucifix on a column before the entrance.
A medieval oratory stood here, built in thanks for a healing and dedicated to Saint Peter, where the sick came to kneel. It was demolished in 1856, and construction of the present church began months later under architect Paul-Marie Prud'homme, lasting until 1877. Pope Pius X made it a minor basilica in 1903; the bell tower's spire was removed in 1957 as too fragile.
The name Espérance refers to Our Lady of Hope. In 1865 the procession statue of the Virgin was crowned before several thousand people. Since 2007 a Tridentine Mass has been celebrated here, and since 2010 priests of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest have held it. Since 16 March 2025 the basilica has been closed for insalubrity, and services have moved to the église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul.
The building sits on a hillside and is easily visible and accessible on foot from the city center. Note that the basilica is currently closed for repairs, so visitors should check opening dates in advance before planning a visit.
The medieval oratory that preceded the basilica was built in thanksgiving for a healing and dedicated to Saint Peter; the sick came to kneel before it. It was demolished in 1856 to make way for the new church, whose construction began a few months later. The spire of the bell tower was taken down in 1957 because it was judged too fragile.
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