BASILIQUE NOTRE-DAME DE L'ÉPINE

The Evron abbey church, in a combination of Romanesque, Gothic and classical styles, is the most important medieval religious building in the Mayenne department.

The origin of the construction of this basilica is based on a legend according to which a pilgrim returning from Jerusalem in the 7th century witnessed a miracle. This miracle is said to have been the reason for the creation of a Benedictine monastery. In the 10th century, the monks of Evron decided to build a large Romanesque church. In the 12th century, a nobleman returning from Santiago de Compostela had an Arab-Byzantine chapel built next to the abbey church. In the 13th century, the monks of Evron wanted to replace their Romanesque church with a Gothic one. However, they were unable to complete the work, leaving behind a church that is part Romanesque, part Gothic, a veritable panorama of medieval religious architecture. The convent buildings destroyed in the 18th century were replaced by a neo-classical building.

Open daily from 9am to 6pm.
Guided tours and educational workshops by prior arrangement.
Accessible to the hearing impaired.