47°08′15″N 0°53′31″W / 47.13750°N 0.89194°W
Saint-Michael's Church of le May-sur-Èvre is located in les Mauges, area of the West of France, (Maine-et-Loire). Often named "the Giant of the Mauges" (French: "le Géant des Mauges") because of its great size, it is the most remarkable building of the town.
History
editThe church was built in the 15th century on the location of a previous priory chapel. Its walls, supported by large granite buttresses and its heavy steeple give the church of Saint-Michel a robust aspect, typical of the Ancien Régime time in les Mauges. After the War in the Vendée (1793 to 1796; French: "Guerre de Vendée"), it is one of the only religious building left in the 19th century.[1][2] Since 1973, it has been inscribed on the list of historical monuments of regional importance, (French: "inscription au titre des monuments historiques" formerly called "Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments Historiques").[3]
Saint-Michael killing the dragon
editA statue of Saint-Michael killing the dragon can be seen in the church which is the work of the sculptor Pierre Biardeau, (1608-1671). Apart for the wings and the cross, the statue is made in only one piece of baked clay.[1]
Notes
edit- ^ a b "Le May-sur-Èvre (49) - Découvrir le May : Historique". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Les églises du Choletais (49)". Archived from the original on 2011-03-08. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ Monument historique