Basilique Saint-Gervais d'Avranches Travel Guide

The Basilique Saint-Gervais d'Avranches, a minor basilica erected by Pope Leo XIII, is a captivating landmark in Avranches, Normandy. Constructed in the mid-19th century, it replaced an earlier church from the 17th century. The basilica stands out with its neoclassical architecture and its 74-meter-high clock tower, which is visible from afar.The basilica is historically significant, as it safeguards the presumed skull of Saint Aubert, the Bishop of Avranches who founded Mont Saint-Michel in the 8th century. The skull is displayed in a reliquary, a masterpiece of goldsmithery. Legend says that the hole in the skull was left by the Archangel Michael when he convinced Saint Aubert to build an oratory.The basilica's interior features a Latin cross plan, with a nave flanked by Tuscan colonnades. The neo-Renaissance western facade is reminiscent of the Church of the Trinity in Paris and is made of granite. The basilica also houses a museum displaying a treasure of ancient goldsmithery and liturgical objects.