The Basilica of Saint-Sauveur de Dinan is a Roman Catholic church situated in Dinan, France. Historically, it is one of the two parish churches in the town, the other being Saint Malo's church.

The building's initial constructions date back to the 11th century. Following a reconstruction campaign initiated in 1480, a northern aisle was added to the nave, and the apse and transept were entirely rebuilt. The façade's upper parts were also reconstructed. Due to an interruption, only the southern nave wall and lower façade remain from the Romanesque church.

This reconstruction effort evidences the town's dynamism at the end of the Middle Ages. The decoration of the radiating chapels is a testament to the fusion of Gothic and Renaissance styles in Brittany during the early 16th century. The collapse of the bell tower in 1547 prompted changes to the church. As a result, the decision was made to not vault the choir, which was instead covered by a panelled roof.

The church also became a site of Marian devotion due to the presence of Notre-Dame-des-Vertus, a 15th-century bas-relief formerly housed in the Cordeliers convent in town. Local veneration of this depiction of the Assumption of the Virgin led to the building being designated a basilica minor by Pope Pius XII on May 23, 1954.

In addition to this, the building also has an abundance of furnishings, which includes a cenotaph containing the heart of Bertrand du Guesclin.

Location The Basilica of Saint-Sauveur in Dinan is located in the French department of Côtes-d'Armor, in the commune of Dinan, in the heart of the (Protected area). It overlooks the Rance river. Behind the apse is the Jardin Anglais, a former cemetery.(fr) "Carte IGN 1116 ET" on Géoportail (Accessed 3 August 2019).

History

Foundation legend

Legend has it that Riwallon le Roux, the lord of Dinan, founded the priory of Saint-Sauveur de Dinan in 1112 upon his return from the Holy Land. As the story goes, the knight was taken prisoner during the First Crusade and vowed to build a church in honor of Saint-Sauveur and the Holy Trinity if he ever returned home. Riwallon was the grandson of Josselin I of Dinan, the son of Olivier I of Dinan, and the brother of Geoffroy I of Dinan. However, no surviving documentation has confirmed this tale. A charter from 1123, which established the division of the town between Olivier II and Alain de Dinan, the founder's nephews, implies that the building and its cemetery were already the property of the abbey of Saint-Jacut.(fr) Vilbert 1986, p. 15-30. Alternatively, the priory might have been granted to the abbey in 1131 by a son of Geoffroy I de Dinan.(fr) Boccard 2017, p. 207. The accuracy of these claims is uncertain as ancient records have been lost, and rely solely on local tradition. From 1123 onwards, Saint-Sauveur de Dinan and Saint-Malo were the two parishes of the town. The former was dependent on Saint-Jacut Abbey and the latter on Marmoutier Abbey, both coming under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Saint-Malo.(fr) Besse 1920, p. 305. Due to conflicts of jurisdiction arising between the two churches, it was decided that Saint-Sauveur would serve the southern part of the town, situated below the Rance bridge to the Jerzual gate. On the other hand, Saint-Malo was designated to serve the northern part. The boundary corresponds to the current streets of Petite Fort, Jerzual, and Lainerie, as well as the main street. Technical term abbreviations are clarified upon first use.(fr) Lunven 2014, § 34.

Late medieval reconstruction The 11th-century church underwent significant renovations from 1480 onwards. Builders constructed a side aisle with a row of chapels to the north of the Romanesque nave, and rebuilt the upper level of the façade. Although a side aisle was planned to the south of the nave, it was never built. Instead, a small three-sided chapel was built on the former site of a doorway in 1500.

The apse was completely rebuilt from 1507 under the guidance of Roland Bougnard, a master builder.(fr) Bonnet and Rioult 2010, p. 132. The entire apse was likely finished circa 1547 after the crossing tower crumbled. This disaster instigated a rebuilding initiative, which involved erecting buttresses to support the high choir.(fr) Boccard 2017, p. 221. After completion in 1646, these areas were topped with a panelled roof structure, which was later substituted with a false plaster vault during the 18th century.

Church and parish in modern times In modern times, Saint-Sauveur de Dinan and Saint-Malo served a population of 5,000 to 8,000 individuals(fr) Cassigneul-Cohan 2019, n. 10. with a strong religious presence. In the 18th century, there were up to 4,000 communicants in the parish of Saint-Sauveur alone.(fr) Cassigneul-Cohan 2019, § 34.

From the late 16th century onward, various brotherhoods emerged in the parish as part of the Catholic Reformation movement. These brotherhoods, under the patronage of saints such as Clément, Fiacre, Barbara, John the Apostle, Joseph, Crépin, Cecilia, Eligius, Laurent, Ascension, and Trinity, reached a total number of twelve by the 18th century. The Confrérie des Marchands Forains has no specific patronage. There are four devotional confraternities: one dedicated to St. Catherine, one dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament, one dedicated to the dying under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, and one dedicated to the archconfraternity of the Annunciation of the Glorious Virgin Mary.(fr) Cassigneul-Cohan 2019, § 4. Additionally, there is a confraternity of priests honoring the Assumption and Nativity of the Virgin, which also includes a significant number of lay notables.(fr) Cassigneul-Cohan 2019, § 37. This brotherhood has medieval roots and was established in 1411 through the merger of two previous fraternities: the Assumption brotherhood in the Saint-Sauveur parish and the Nativity of Mary brotherhood at the Hôtel-Dieu.(fr) Cassigneul-Cohan 2019, § 5.

The building's liturgical activities are abundant and include parish services, as well as those organized by confraternities. Of these, the priest's brotherhood is the most active, providing daily sung masses with deacon and sub-deacon at the high altar. Additionally, two annual solemn masses and funeral services for deceased confreres are held.(fr) Cassigneul-Cohan 2019, § 36.

The French Revolution and its aftermath The church underwent a transformation during the Revolution, first becoming a Temple of Reason and then a hayloft, before being returned to its original purpose in 1801. In 1808, a storm destroyed the roof, and in 1820, a window collapsed.(fr) "Dinan : après Notre-Dame, la basilique Saint-Sauveur surveillée de près" archive, on actu.fr (Accessed 4 August 2019)

In 1851–1852, architect oversaw a restoration campaign that included rebuilding the west façade and south arm openings according to the design of the original bays. Victor Ruprich-Robert continued the restoration effort from 1855 to 1864. In 1862, the building was designated a historic monument.(fr) "Basilique Saint-Sauveur" archive, notice no PA00089077, Mérimée database, French Ministry of Culture. The north transept and façade underwent restoration in 1907. In 1954, the church was bestowed the title of minor basilica to acknowledge the veneration of Notre-Dame des Vertus's relief from the in the town.(fr) Monier 1977, p. 94.

Life in the building today In 2008–2009, the southern chapel in the nave underwent restoration. Further, restoration efforts were made to the choir roofs in the first half of 2013.(fr) "Basilique Saint-Sauveur. La toiture du chœur restaurée", Le Télégramme, 15 December 2012 (ISSN 2491-4215, read online archive)

In February 2019, preventive archaeological excavations were carried out on the square situated in front of the church, as well as the Jardin Anglais, as part of a project to redevelop the area. Inrap researchers made an astounding discovery of burials in the Jardin Anglais, a site known to have once served as a cemetery. The most significant find was that of a woman from the modern era buried with her rosary. Four successive occupation levels were uncovered on the Place Saint-Sauveur side. The earliest of these levels present post-holes, though there is no way to date it. Remains of a butcher's shop imply that the 15th-century covered market may have existed before its attestation. Finally, traces of a calvary attested in the 18th and 19th centuries, along with a forgotten drain, were discovered. No significant objects were found by the researchers under the forecourt, but they did reveal that the ground level was nearly one metre lower than the basilica's current threshold. This finding prompts inquiries into the basilica's history, as the level may have been elevated.(fr) "Dinan: sous les pavés, des sépultures, un squelette et des restes d'animaux" archive, on actu.fr (Accessed 4 August 2019)

In response to the Notre-Dame de Paris fire on April 15, 2019, the basilica and its attic space underwent a fire safety inspection commissioned by the mayor.

Today, the church is a part of the parish of Dinan, encompassing the municipalities of Dinan (including the Saint-Malo church), Léhon, Aucaleuc, Quévert, Lanvallay, , and .(fr) "Communauté pastorale de Dinan" archive, on Communauté pastorale de Dinan (Accessed 27 July 2019)

Architecture

The current structure of the building follows a Latin cross pattern and comprises a nave with a single aisle to the north, a projecting transept, and an apse marked by five radiating chapels.

Stylistically, the architecture of Saint-Sauveur basilica in Dinan can be categorized into two sections: a Romanesque section from the 12th century, which includes the first floor of the west façade and the south wall of the nave, and a Gothic section that covers the remaining parts of the building, such as the upper part of the west façade, the north wall of the lower side of the nave, the transept, and the apse.

Exterior

The façade

The lower sections of the façade exhibit Romanesque architecture and are strongly influenced by edifices located south of the Loire, particularly those in Poitou and Saintonge. Numerous historians have observed affinities between these sections and the churches of (fr) Couffon 1938, p. 96–100. and .(fr) Déceneux 1998, p. 91–92. Some scholars also note traces of Byzantine architecture, indicating possible influence from Riwallon's engagement in the First Crusade,(fr) Tillet 1982, p. 117. though this claim is contested.(fr) Boccard 2017, p. 210.

The base area is separated by three curved arches, each with three voussoirs. Above the nave entrance, there is a 19th-century artistic tympanum. The first voussoir depicts the Elders of the Apocalypse and the labors of the months, while the second features stylized plant motifs with beaded ribbons that may be influenced by Byzantine styles. The left and right arcades are divided into two smaller arcades, supported by twisted columns on the sides and a smooth column in the center. These four arcades contain unrecognizable statues, which are completely eroded or mutilated at an unknown time period. The columns and statues are supported by recumbent lions, which are also badly eroded.

Above the three arches, there are sculptures of an ox and a lion, both winged and holding a book, probably serving as symbols of the evangelists Mark and Luke. It is possible that these sculptures were removed from an earlier building.(fr) Tillet 1982, p. 118.