Collegiate Church of St. Aignan, Orléans, France

One of the most frequently altered churches in the Loire Valley, St-Aignan was consecrated in 1509 in the form you see today. It possesses one of France's earliest vaulted hall crypts, complete with polychromed capitals. Scholars of pre-Romanesque art view the place with interest; its 10th- and 11th-century aesthetics are rare. Aboveground, the church's Renaissance-era choir and transept remain, but the Protestants burned the nave during the Wars of Religion.

In a wood-carved shrine are the remains of the church's patron saint Aignan, or Agnan(358-453). He was the Bishop of Orléans, who assisted Roman general Flavius Aetius in the defense of the city against Attila the Hun in 451.

References:

User Reviews

Andalie Charrier (2 years ago)
Reservation made on the Tourist Office website (online therefore) Theatrical visit, by electric candle (to avoid any incidents) the gentleman told us the whole history of the collegiate church as well as its crypt from the Middle Ages to now. Very interesting and instructive and above all unusual! Which will please both children and adults.

Lara Baker (3 years ago)
Incredibly beautiful collegiate church, which, unfortunately, was half destroyed during the Huguenot wars. The relics of Saint Enyan, a local saint who saved Orleans from the invasion of the Huns led by Attila, are kept here. Some of the stained-glass windows were irretrievably lost during the Second World War, but the rest of the church miraculously did not suffer. You should definitely go here, but the church is not always open to the public

Gilles Vaillant (3 years ago)
Great guide for an informative visit Thank you Yves for this good time

Marie France SALMON (3 years ago)
Guided tour in dramatized form. Fascinating...impressive historic site. To make this visit, contact the tourist office for a reservation. Too bad the church can't be visited

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

Collegiate Church of St. Aignan

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater