Basilique Notre Dame des Tables, Montpellier

Basilique Notre Dame des Tables, Montpellier

The Basilica Notre-Dame des Tables is the mother church of Montpellier located in the heart of the city.

The Basilica Notre-Dame des Tables is the mother church of Montpellier located in the heart of the city. Originally founded as the Church of Sainte-Marie in 1090, it became Sainte-Marie des Tables in 1204, and later the Notre-Dame des Tables. While the original structure was destroyed in the 16th-17th century, the present Baroque church next to the Jesuit college was built in 1707-'48 to designs by Jean Giral.

Its 2-storey simple façade features pilasters, and niches with the statues of Saint John and Saint Joseph on either side of the portal. Of note are the Baussan marble altarpiece and high altar, featuring Jean-Charles Nicaise Perrin's painting 'Assumption' between statues of Saint Roch who was born in the city, and Saint Fermin, Bishop of Pamplona. Above it is the coat-of-arms of Montpellier. The church has an 18th century grand organ by Dom Bédos de Celles that has been renovated several times, and now has 3 keyboards of 56 notes, a pedal of 30 notes and 37 sets. The 3 bells of the basilica – the 420 kg Notre-Dame des Tables, 1 ton Emmanuelle-Julie-Isabelle, and 1.7 ton Victoire-Etiennette-Adrienne, are all from the 20th century.

The crypt houses an underground museum dedicated to the history of Montpellier.