Collégiale Notre-Dame, Dole, Franche-Comte, France
The construction of the Basilica of Our Lady of Dole began in 1509. The building, which was a collegiate until 1951, took the succession of another church, nearby, built in the early thirteenth century and already dedicated to Our Lady. At the end of the 15th century, this first college was too small for a rising population. Dole, capital of the County, must honor his rank. Dijon and its churches serve as emulation. In addition, the struggle between Louis XI and Charles the Bold ended in a regular invasion of Burgundy by the Royal Army. The soldiery puts all the rebellious cities in step with authority of the King of France. Dole is sacked in 1479. The collegiate is badly damaged.
Before embarking on a new construction, four master masons are sent to Dijon by the Fabrique to see the churches and, in particular, Saint-Michel, then under construction. The style chosen for the new Collegiate church will be the flamboyant gothic finishing. Around 1530, choir and chapels of the choir are completed. The nave and the aisles are completed around 1572. However, the architectural style evolves very quickly: if the north portal is flamboyant Gothic, the western portal, whose drawing is four years old, is already in style Renaissance. As for the steeple raised above the tower, he has experienced many misfortunes. The first, erected by Hugues Sambin and Hughes Le Ruptin 1577, was destroyed by the French artillery during the painful siege of 1636 . It is rebuilt with twenty meters lower in height a few years later. Note also that, at the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Fabrique managed to obtain one of the two hosts of the miracle of Faverney . To shelter it, the southern chapel, next to the choir, will be transformed: it will become the “chapel of the Blessed Sacrament of Miracle”, which one can see today under the name of Sainte-Chapelle .
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