Church of Saint-Géry (Église Saint-Géry)
About Church of Saint-Géry (Église Saint-Géry)
The oldest surviving church in Valenciennes, founded in 1225 by Countess Jehanne de Flandre for the Franciscan order and consecrated in 1233. Originally a collegiate church, it earned the nickname "The Saint-Denis of the Valenciennois" for serving as the burial place of the Counts of Hainaut. The interior preserves 12 original 13th-century stone pillars with capitals representing the Apostles, along with a wooden vault and the Flamboyant Gothic Chapelle Sainte-Anne. Notable artworks include the reliquary containing Saint Géry's relics, a crucifix by Jacques Perdrix, and paintings depicting the Flight into Egypt and the Visitation. The current neo-Gothic tower was added in 1851 after the town hall belfry collapsed. The church underwent reconstruction in 1965 following World War II damage and is currently celebrating its 800th anniversary in 2025.
Interesting Facts
Saint Géry (Gaugericus), the church's patron, was a 6th-century bishop who reportedly founded Brussels by building a chapel to Saint Michael and banishing a dragon from the area. Born around 550 in what is now Carignan, he became Bishop of Cambrai around 585 and is credited with destroying pagan idols at Mont-des-Bœufs.
During the French Revolution (1793-1794), the church was stripped of its religious function and served as military barracks, a hospital, and even a prison. The bombardment caused the choir vault to collapse in 1802, and Catholic worship only returned in 1803.
The church temporarily houses the statue of Notre-Dame du Saint Cordon, the patron saint of Valenciennes, while the Basilique Notre-Dame du Saint-Cordon undergoes restoration. This makes Saint-Géry particularly significant for the local parish during this period.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
56 Rue de Paris, 59300 Valenciennes, France