This is Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Port, a grand nineteenth-century church built close to the former harbour and dedicated to the Virgin Mary as protector of sailors. Its enormous dome and elaborate neoclassical façade give it a suitably commanding presence, suggesting that architectural modesty was considered and then rejected before the plans were approved. It’s a robust building though, I can imagine that the sailors liked it and I was also pleased that the authorities have put up an information board about it.
This is only a short post, which will likely come as a relief to my two loyal blog readers, as I did not go inside and therefore cannot offer my usual detailed assessment of the stonework, stained glass and available seating. It looked exceptionally grand from the exterior, although it was a shame that so many cars were parked directly in front of it, perhaps slightly compromising the intended effect of the monumental façade. Nineteenth-century architects rarely allowed for the possibility that their finest civic views would eventually become convenient places to leave a random assortment of Renaults.