Sainte-Croix Church

The Sainte-Croix church, in the heart of the Bouffay

The Nantes audio-guided tour invites you to quiet contemplation on the forecourt of the elegant Sainte-Croix church, standing in the heart of the Bouffay district, of which it has been the parish since the twelfth century. Its white, harmonious façade makes it one of the most remarkable religious buildings of old Nantes.

A building of the Counter-Reformation

The façade of the church is in the Jesuit style, an artistic current born of the Catholic Counter-Reformation and close to baroque art. A priory of Benedictine monks existed here from the eleventh century, followed by a church which, in 1669, was falling into ruin. This explains the construction of the present building. During the Revolution, the church was transferred to the property of the nation and used as a prison. It was also within these walls that the young Jules Verne was baptised, on 8 February 1828.

What there is to see

Stepping back a little, one observes one of the peculiarities of the church: its bell tower surmounted by a belfry adorned with angels and a crown, a vestige of the former municipal belfry. Inside, the atmosphere of contemplation and the decor invite silence. A place of faith and memory, the Sainte-Croix church can be discovered with respect, in the heart of the oldest district of the city.

Practical information

The Sainte-Croix church stands in the heart of the Bouffay district, in old Nantes. 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.

Which famous figure was baptised there?

The writer Jules Verne was baptised there on 8 February 1828; the Sainte-Croix church has been the parish of the Bouffay since the twelfth century.

In what style is the façade?

It is in the Jesuit style, born of the Catholic Counter-Reformation and close to baroque art; the present building replaces a church that fell into ruin in the seventeenth century.