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Description
A great church built out of gratitude to the Virgin Mary
Val-de-Grâce is one of the most important churches in all of France. It was originally built under the orders of Queen Anne of Austria, who after 23 years of being unable to have a child finally gave birth to her son, Louis XIV. The church became a symbol of her gratitude to the Virgin Mary.
The church of the Val-de-Grâce was designed by François Mansart and Jacques Lemercier. Construction began in 1645, and this fine example of Baroque architecture was completed in 1667. The French Revolution was a period in which many great architectural structures endured looting and desecration, but surprisingly this was not one of them.
Val-de-Grâce is one of the most important churches in all of France. It was originally built under the orders of Queen Anne of Austria, who after 23 years of being unable to have a child finally gave birth to her son, Louis XIV. The church became a symbol of her gratitude to the Virgin Mary.
The church of the Val-de-Grâce was designed by François Mansart and Jacques Lemercier. Construction began in 1645, and this fine example of Baroque architecture was completed in 1667. The French Revolution was a period in which many great architectural structures endured looting and desecration, but surprisingly this was not one of them.