Lisieux Basilica of Saint Thérèse

The Basilica of Saint Thérèse in Lisieux, Calvados, Normandy, is one of the largest Catholic churches built in the 20th century and a major international Catholic pilgrimage site. Thérèse Martin (1873–1897) was born and raised in Lisieux, entered the local Carmelite convent at 15, and died of tuberculosis at 24 after writing her spiritual autobiography, The Story of a Soul. Canonised by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997, she is one of the most widely venerated saints in the modern Catholic world. The Romano-Byzantine basilica, begun in 1929 and consecrated in 1954, can accommodate 4,000 worshippers in its nave and side galleries. The exterior presents a large central cupola flanked by twin bell towers; the interior is lined floor to ceiling with mosaics depicting scenes from Thérèse's life and the Gospels. The crypt beneath the main church, older and more intimate in character, contains important relics. The adjacent Carmel de Lisieux, where Thérèse spent the last nine years of her life, can be visited separately; the cell where she died is preserved. A panoramic terrace behind the basilica, reached by lift, offers views over the Touques valley and the surrounding Norman countryside. Pilgrimage numbers peak from June through October, with the feast of Saint Thérèse on October 1 drawing very large crowds. Entry to the basilica is free throughout the year.