Saint-Nicolas Basilica

The Saint-Nicolas basilica, a neo-Gothic jewel

The Nantes audio-guided tour invites you to quiet contemplation before the Saint-Nicolas basilica, one of the two basilicas of the city. This small medieval church became, over the centuries and the enlargements, one of the very first neo-Gothic monuments in France.

Centuries of enlargements

At the end of the twelfth century, a small church, or chapel, and its Saint-Nicolas cemetery stood here. In 1226, the duke had a wall built around the district, and in the fifteenth century, the renovation of the wall was the occasion to improve the building. It continued to be enlarged in step with the growth of the population, until its complete reconstruction from 1844. Hemmed in on a cramped site, it ended up oriented north-south, and not east-west as tradition requires. The works were entrusted to Jean-Baptiste Lassus, author of one of the first neo-Gothic projects in the country.

What there is to see

The basilica impresses with its stone bell tower, whose spire rises to one hundred metres and whose construction alone took fifteen years. Inside, the neo-Gothic elevation, the vaults and the light of the stained-glass windows invite silence and contemplation. A living place of worship in the heart of the city, it is a major landmark of the Nantes landscape, to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

The Saint-Nicolas basilica is in the heart of the city centre of Nantes, near Place Royale. An active place of worship, it is visited with respect for the contemplation of the faithful; access is generally free during opening hours, which may vary according to services. Appropriate dress is appreciated.

How tall is the bell tower?

The stone spire of the Saint-Nicolas basilica rises to one hundred metres; its construction alone took fifteen years of work.

Why is the basilica important?

Rebuilt from 1844 by Jean-Baptiste Lassus, it is among the very first neo-Gothic buildings in France.