Basilique Saint-Michel

The Basilique Saint-Michel rises over the Place Meynard in the Saint-Michel district of Bordeaux, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. Built mainly between the 14th and 16th centuries, it is a leading example of Flamboyant Gothic architecture in south-western France and belongs to the group of Bordeaux monuments inscribed on the UNESCO listing of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela, since pilgrims on the Camino stopped here. The church was built for a community of sailors, boatmen and artisans living along the river, and the neighbourhood retains a working-class and multicultural character to this day. Its most striking feature is the separate bell tower, built between 1472 and 1492 and rising to about 114 metres, which makes it the tallest bell tower in southern France. Like the tower of the cathedral, it was built apart from the nave, a choice usually attributed to the instability of the ground. The tower was topped by a stone spire that was struck by lightning and later replaced, and it was repaired again in the 19th century. In the 1800s the crypt beneath the tower, once used as a burial vault, preserved naturally mummified bodies that were displayed for visitors for many years. Inside, the basilica has tall slender pillars, ribbed vaults, a large Gothic nave and carved details, along with later furnishings and stained glass. The building suffered during the Revolution, when it served non-religious functions, and later returned to worship, with long restoration programmes continuing. The site is read chronologically and architecturally, as a building rather than a museum, and the climb of the tower, when it is open on selected dates, gives wide views over the city and the river. The square outside hosts the Sunday flea market, one of the liveliest in Bordeaux, and in the surrounding streets visitors can find North African and other food stalls. The church itself is free to enter, and the quarter offers a more everyday view of the city than the grand quays.