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Description:
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The unusual name of La Charité-sur-Loire reflects the town's ancient heritage as a monastic foundation (1059) where pilgrims en route to Santiago de Compostela would inevitably stop to take advantage of the Benedictine monks' hospitality (la charité des bon pères). La Charité was the pre-eminent daughter house of Cluny, with many daughter houses and dependencies of its own; by the 12th C., La Charité had 200 monks. The architecture of its church, Sainte-Croix-Notre-Dame, reflects the size and status of the priory. The church was built in several campaigns during the first half of the 12th C.; it was consecrated by Pope Pascal II in 1107. By 1135 building included the choir with five radiating chapels, the transept with a chapel on either end of the cross-arm, the octagonal crossing tower, the nave with double side aisles and the grand, five-portal west facade with two bell towers. Apparently there is some dispute over whether or not the south tower of the facade was ever built, but the church's resemblance to the Cluny plan would suggest it was part of the original plan. The original 12th C. north tower still stands. In the 1570 Saint-Germain peace, La Charité was one of four safe places were Protestants were free to practice their religion. Nevertheless, the town was devastated during the Wars of Religion (1562-1598). By the time the French Revolution broke out in 1789, only 12 monks remained in the priory. Although the church and priory were sold, they were not destroyed. In 1840 Prosper Mérimée (1803-1870), then Inspector General of Historical Monuments, saved the church from falling victim to a plan to widen the Route Royale by cancelling the project.The church has undergone restoration and the facade is separated from the main church. Nevertheless, it remains an excellent example of the Burgundian Romanesque style and Cluniac architecture. In 1994, the town of La Charité was one of the founders of the Féderation des Sites Clunisiens, which includes 59 members across Europe.It was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1998. ca. August 1981
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