The graves of the Cordeliers church in Nancy

Duke René II’s foundation

René's grave

Raised between 1477 and 1484, Cordeliers church was the foundation of René II, duke of Lorraine.

He raised the convent church to celebrate his victory on duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold, died in front of Nancy’s rampart in 1477.

Then, he gave it to Cordeliers brothers, who raised a convent few years after.

René wanted to be buried here, in a luxurious grave.

His widow Philippa of Gueldre ordered this monument sculpted by Mansuy Gauvin, the artist who made Bonsecours Virgin's statue.

René II’s illuminator, Pierquin Fauteret, painted the grave. We can see René kneeling down in front of Virgin Mary and baby Jesus.

The duke and the Virgin statues were destroyed during the Revolution and replaced in 1818.

Philippa's wrinkled face

Let's have a look at other dukes’ graves!

A special mention to Philippa of Gelderland’s recumbent figure... René II’s second wife, who died in 1547, was a nun.

Her wrinkled face seems so quiet!

This nice recumbent statue was made by Ligier Richier, the talented sculptor who designed Bar-le-Duc's skeleton (Transi).

The duke’s chapel

This chapel was raised in the 17th century.

Several dukes of Lorraine were buried here:

• Antoine and his wife Renée of Bourbon;
• François I and Christine of Denmark;
• Charles III and Claude of France;
• François II;
• Léopold-Clément (duke Léopold’s elder son) and his brother François...

What about king of Poland Stanislas? He was buried in Bonsecours church with his family.