€180million facelift for WW1 bombarded French basilica
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€180million facelift for WW1 bombarded French basilica
Notre-Dame de Brebières basilica in the Somme was hit by 2,000 bombs but its golden statue held true to prophecies not to fall until the war ended
2 March 2021
The Basilica remains an important pilgrimage site and is visited by 60,000 people every year, not counting congregations at Mass.By Samantha David
Notre-Dame de Brebières, the neo-Byzantine Basilica in Albert (in the Somme department, half an hour north-east of Amiens) was built in 1885-1897, but totally destroyed in the First World War. It is said that 2,000 shells fell on the church.