St. Gervais Basilica, a charming church in the heart of Avranches, is known for owning the skull of the commune’s 8th-century bishop. This religious parable has made the structure very popular among visitors to the town. Take a look inside this fascinating basilica to see its collection of treasures comprising works of art and religious artifacts dating back several centuries.
See the hole at the top of the skull, where legend has it that the archangel Michael drove his finger in to convince St. Aubert to build an oratory. The spirit is said to have appeared to the bishop, who is buried in the oratory, three times in total. A more scientific explanation is that the skull actually belonged to a prehistoric person who took part in a trepanning ritual. The skull stands in an elegant glass case with gold decoration.
Gaze up at the bell tower and its classic clock at the top, at a height of 243 feet (74 metres). This part of the church is known as its emblem and can be seen from the other side of the town. The clock and 32 bells are a relatively new component, dating back to the 1800s.
Admire the neoclassical style of the church’s façade. It has a wide bottom half with the extension of the bell tower at its centre. Walk along the spacious central nave and admire the interior architecture, with its gold-colored columns and arches on either side.
The basilica was constructed in the 17th century, in part to replace the destroyed cathedral of the nearby Mont Saint-Michel. It took a couple of centuries for the basilica to reach its present splendour.
The St. Gervais Basilica is located in the centre of Avranches. It is near to many other landmarks, including the Museum of Art and History, the Tourism Office and the Avranches Castle. You can easily walk to the basilica within a few minutes from anywhere in the town centre or the Jardin des Plantes.