Nantes - St Pierre et St Paul

In Nantes, to the north of the Château, in Place St-Pierre, is the cathedral, which occupies the site of two earlier churches (sixth C. and 939). Building began in 1434 with the facade, continued in the 17th C. and was completed between 1840 and 1891. The three-aisled interior is very impressive. In the south transept is the tomb of the last Duke of Brittany, Francis II (d. 1488) and his wife Marguerite of Foix, a masterpiece of richly decorated Renaissance art (by Michel Colombe, 1502-1507, commissioned by Duchess Anne (Anne de Bretagne). The tomb is empty, as is the golden shrine which once contained Anne's heart. In the north transept is the tomb (also empty) of General Lamoricière (1805-1865), by Paul Dubois (1879).