French Heritage Society

French Heritage Society

Preserving our historic treasures to inspire future generations

France

Église Protestante de Saumur

Apr 25, 2025
The Protestant Church of Saumur symbolizes a distinct chapter in the history of the city of Saumur, which was considered the political capital of Protestantism at the beginning of the 17th century.  Site History In 1589, the city of Saumur became a stronghold of Protestantism following the rapprochement between Kings Henry III and Henry IV. Protestant […]

Église Protestante de Saumur

The Protestant Church of Saumur symbolizes a distinct chapter in the history of the city of Saumur, which was considered the political capital of Protestantism at the beginning of the 17th century. 

Site History

In 1589, the city of Saumur became a stronghold of Protestantism following the rapprochement between Kings Henry III and Henry IV. Protestant places of worship have had a complicated history in France, and Saumur is no exception. A building of worship was destroyed in 1590 during the construction of the citadel. In 1593, another Protestant church was built near the city center. Inaugurated by Henry IV, it was razed in 1685 following the prohibition of Protestantism.

The Napoleonic Organic Articles of 1802 again authorized Protestant worship in France. The Protestant community of Saumur, which was reformed with the help of the English of Anjou, entrusted the architect Charles Joly-Leterme with the construction of a new church a few meters from the old one. Inspired by ancient Greek temples, the Protestant Church of Saumur was completed in 1844. The interior of the building was completed 10 years later. Its architecture and decor are simple, in keeping with Protestant values. 

About the Project

The restoration work concerns the upper levels of the church, both interior and exterior, including reopening of the cross-shaped bay, restoration of woodwork and the organ gallery, preservation of the painted decorations, and restoration of the existing railings and ironwork. Work will begin in the spring of 2021 and be completed in 2023.

Église Protestante de Saumur Today

This Protestant church is unique in the Maine-et-Loire department, both for its history and for its architecture. Emblematic of a defining chapter in Saumur’s history, it speaks to the city’s identity as a Huguenot stronghold in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In addition to regularly welcoming worshippers from Angers and Cholet, the church is an integral part of the city’s tourist circuit. An exhibition on the history of Protestantism is planned.

Abbaye de Longues

Apr 24, 2025
A jewel of Norman heritage located near the D-Day landing beaches, the 12th-century Abbaye de Longues stands as an exceptional testimony to religious life, architecture and decorative arts in Normandy during the Middle Ages. Site History A few kilometers from Bayeux, near the D-Day landing beaches, stands the 12th-century Abbaye de Longues, an exceptional testimony to religious […]

Abbaye de Longues

A jewel of Norman heritage located near the D-Day landing beaches, the 12th-century Abbaye de Longues stands as an exceptional testimony to religious life, architecture and decorative arts in Normandy during the Middle Ages.

Site History

A few kilometers from Bayeux, near the D-Day landing beaches, stands the 12th-century Abbaye de Longues, an exceptional testimony to religious life, architecture and decorative arts in Normandy in the Middle Ages. Founded in 1168, this striking former Benedictine abbey features a complex of buildings, including the church, chapter house and monks’ refectory, as well as a garden. It is also home to a beautiful collection of glazed tiles from the 13th century that are among the finest in Normandy.

In 1257, the abbey’s community had 22 monks; by 1760, it had been reduced to just five members. The abbey was sold during the Revolution. The remaining buildings were saved from ruin by U.S. Senator Charles Dewey, who bought the estate in 1932 and began the first urgent restoration work. Spared during the D-Day landings, the abbey is now being restored by its current owners. It has received several FHS restoration grants.

About the Project

The chapter house is in need of major restoration work, including the consolidation and repair of stone façades and walls. Ivy and vegetation have caused serious damage to the structure over the years, leading to water infiltration, and some major stones are splitting and breaking, necessitating their replacement. 

Abbaye de Longues Today

Georges and Marie-Jeanne d’Anglejan were charmed by this windswept abbey overlooking the sea. Since 1964, they have devoted themselves to its preservation and restoration. It is a project of a lifetime that has brought together three generations of the family. Classified as a historic monument, the abbey is open to visitors and for weddings, receptions and other activities.

Hôtel National des Invalides – Napoleon’s Tomb

Apr 24, 2025
An important symbol of France’s historic and artistic heritage, the complex of Les Invalides encompasses a military hospital, museums and monuments, and the church that houses Napoleon’s tomb. Site History The Hôtel National des Invalides, a vast complex of buildings in the heart of Paris, was created by Louis XIV to serve as the first […]

Hôtel National des Invalides – Napoleon’s Tomb

An important symbol of France’s historic and artistic heritage, the complex of Les Invalides encompasses a military hospital, museums and monuments, and the church that houses Napoleon’s tomb.

Site History

The Hôtel National des Invalides, a vast complex of buildings in the heart of Paris, was created by Louis XIV to serve as the first veterans’ retirement home and hospital in Europe. Today, along with those functions, it contains museums and monuments related to the military history of France. The complex is also home to the Dôme des Invalides, the tallest church in Paris, which contains the tombs of some of France’s most celebrated war heroes, most notably Napoleon. 

Designed by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart and famous for its gilded dome, the Dôme is an exemplar of French classical architecture. It has fulfilled a range of functions since it opened in 1706. During the reign of Louis XIV, it was the venue for the royal mass; it became the temple of Mars during the French Revolution and a refuge for Allied pilots in World War II. In 1840, Louis Philippe I had Napoleon Bonaparte’s remains transferred from Saint Helena to Les Invalides. A large area was excavated in the center of the Dôme, and Napoleon’s remains were placed there in 1861. 

About the Project

May 5, 2021, marks the bicentenary of Napoleon’s death. To celebrate the occasion, the Musée de l’Armée and the Fondation Napoléon have joined forces in an international appeal to help restore, at the Hôtel National des Invalides, the monuments associated with the Emperor and his brothers Joseph, King of Naples and later of Spain, and Jérôme, King of Westphalia and Governor of Les Invalides. The most prominent restoration work concerns Napoleon’s tomb, including its mosaic floor and marble bas-reliefs. 

The restoration and refurbishment of these monuments are part of a larger “Napoleon Season,” which includes a major exhibition, concerts, talks and many other events throughout 2021. All of these activities are open to the public and will be a major focus of the cultural life of Paris during the bicentenary. 

Les Invalides Today

The Hôtel National des Invalides retains its original function as a hospital and hospice for badly injured and disabled war veterans. In addition to the military hospital and the Dôme, it houses the Musée de l’Armée, the military museum of the Army of France; the Musée des plans-reliefs; the Musée d’histoire contemporaine; and the Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération. The site receives more than 1.2 million visitors a year.