Église Saint-Sulpice de Favières

Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières

In a tiny village of the Renarde valley stands a Rayonnant Gothic church of almost cathedral proportions, readily nicknamed the finest village church in France. It was raised around 1260–1290, in the time of Saint Louis, to absorb the crowds of an already ancient pilgrimage. That pilgrimage was born of a tenacious legend: Saint Sulpicius the Pious, bishop of Bourges, who died in 647, is said to have raised a drowned child from the dead in this place, and word of the miracle is said to have brought the sick flocking. Adjoining the choir, the Chapel of the Miracles is older than the church itself: it is the choir of the original sanctuary, from the late 12th century, where the crutches and walking sticks abandoned by healed cripples were hung on the walls. The chronicler Guillaume de Pathus recorded several cures that took place in the time of Saint Louis, and the 18th century still saw four sick people from Clamart leave cured, which revived the devotion. The confraternity of Saint-Sulpice then counted nearly 500 affiliated parishes, and the pilgrimage ran from 17 January, the saint's feast day, until mid-September. The building preserves 13th-century stained glass and a reliquary bust of the saint; it was restored after the fire of 1652, then in the 19th century by Juste Lisch.

Wikipédia — Église Saint-Sulpice de Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières ↗

Getting there : In the heart of the village, place de l'Église (1 rue aux Fèves), some ten kilometres south of Arpajon. Easy access by car via the D82; by public transport, Étréchy or Lardy station (RER C) then by road. Free entry during opening hours, guided tours available through Essonne Tourisme.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

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