St-Sauveur, Du Guesclin's death | ©Whiteredge / CC-BY-SAThe man who founded the basilica was the lord Rivallon Le Roux ("The Red"): Saracens held him prisoner in Palestine during the Crusades in the 12th century. If he came through, he swore he would raise a church in Dinan city.
And our knight came back in Brittany! He immediately kept his promise and built a little church. His trip in Orient made a great impression on him: we still can see beasts' sculptures, as dromedary or lion...
In the 15th century, the building was extended: a huge building work began, for 200 years...
In the end, we had our current church. It was transformed into a temple during the French Revolution, then into a barn. Its basilica title dates back to 1954.
Did you know Saint-Sauveur houses famous constable Bertrand Duguesclin's heart? His grave is located in the basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris, but this part of his body rests on his native land...
