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Basilique Notre-Dame de Brebières, Albert, France | |
| A graceful building, topped with a golden Virgin and "flying baby." | ||
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You can't miss the Basilique de Notre-Dame de Brebières when you drive into Albert. It dominates the main square in the center of town. According to legend, in the 11th century an angry shepherd hit the earth with his staff, and was startled when a voice told him to stop because he was hurting her. Digging at that spot, he found a statue of the Virgin, which became known as the Madonna of the Sheep. Various churches existed on the site over the years, and in the late 1800s the neo-byzantine church was built. There's another legend associated with the church, dating to World War I. Albert was subject to significant bombings and attacks during World War I and was at the center of the Battle of the Somme. The church was a visible landmark and was bombed repeatedly. In January 1915 the golden statue of the Virgin and Child tipped over, leaning in a horizontal position. From 1915 until April of 1918 she stayed that way, reaching out over the town. She became famous among British soldiers, who would send postcards home of the "leaning Virgin." This gave rise to the belief, "When the Virgin falls, the war will be over. " She lasted almost to the end, close enough to be credible. After the war the basilica was rebuilt, honoring the style of the original building. And a replica statue was recast by Albert Roze, the sculptor from Amiens who had done the original statue. The statue itself is quite unusual, as the Virgin is lifting the child in the air, giving the appearance of a "flying baby,"
The interior of the basilica, with its ornate and colorful decor and its lovely stained glass windows, is well worth a visit. Its style contrasts with the older churches in the region, such as the Gothic masterpiece of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame d'Amiens, just 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Albert.
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