Cléry-Saint-André - Notre-Dame

The huge Gothic "Basilique Notre-Dame de Cléry-Saint-André" replaced a preceding church, destroyed by English troops during the Hundred Years' War in 1428.

The building was funded by Charles VII (aka "Charles the Victorious", "Charles le Bien Servi") and Louis XI (aka "Louis the Prudent", "Louis the Spider"). Louis XI choose this church as his burial ground.

He and his second wife Charlotte of Savoy are buried here. Nearby is the heart of their son Charles VIII (aka "Charles the Affable"). He died, at the age of 27, in 1498 as the result of an accident.

Here is a long list of celebrities, who visited the place. Already the preceding, destroyed church, was place of pilgrimage, as a sanctuary of the Virgin.