Saint-Gervais Basilica (Basilique Saint-Gervais)
About Saint-Gervais Basilica (Basilique Saint-Gervais)
This 19th-century minor basilica stands on the site of an ancient Roman forum in Avranches, the gateway town to Mont-Saint-Michel. Built between 1843 and 1865 in neo-Renaissance style with a 74-meter granite bell tower added in 1899, it is the only building of this architectural style in the Manche department. The basilica houses the Trésor Saint-Gervais, which contains the skull of Saint Aubert, the bishop who founded Mont-Saint-Michel in 708 AD. Visitors can see the austere neoclassical interior with black and white marble floors, Tuscan columns, and a notable organ from 1880. The 35-bell carillon, spanning bells cast from 1792 to 2008, is one of the most impressive collections in Normandy. Entry is free, though the church closes during religious services.
Interesting Facts
The skull of Saint Aubert displays a visible hole that medieval legend attributed to Archangel Michael piercing the bishop's head with his finger to convince him to build Mont-Saint-Michel. Scientific analysis in 2019 revealed it's actually from a successful trepanation (ancient brain surgery), making it a rare surviving example of Merovingian-era medical practice.
During the French Revolution in 1792, a quick-thinking local doctor named Louis-Julien Guérin saved Saint Aubert's skull from destruction by claiming he needed it for "medical research." This deception preserved the relic while the original Saint-André Cathedral and most religious artifacts in Avranches were destroyed.
In September 2023, Saint Aubert's skull made its first ceremonial journey across the bay to Mont-Saint-Michel in centuries, carried by pilgrims during the millennial celebration of the abbey. This procession recreated the spiritual connection between Avranches and the famous island monastery that Aubert founded in 708 AD.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Place Saint-Gervais, 50300 Avranches, France
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