Façade de l'église Saint-Étienne de Briare.
Cette église fut inaugurée le 8 décembre 1895 après 5 années de construction.
Elle a été consacrée le 24 septembre 1898 par Monseigneur Touchet, évêque d'Orléans.
Son style est romano-byzantin.
La façade extérieure est couverte de frises et de panneaux de mosaïque polychrome.
Elle est dominée par l'effigie de l'ange martyr Saint-Étienne (cliquer sur la petite image ci-dessous).
L'église a été entièement financé par Jean-Félix Bapterosses et sa famille.
Depuis 1987, l'édifice est inscrit aux Monuments historiques.
==========================================
Before the construction of this impressive church, there was a small church typical of the region.
When Mr Bapterosses, the man who founded the factory of enamels in Briare in 1851, settled here,
he decided to build a new church which would be the reflect of the know-how of his factory which is still in activity.
The style of the church is romanesque-byzantine and all around there are friezes of mosaics
representing flowers, swirls symbolizing the Loire river and the canals.
At the top (click on the thumbnail below), we see Saint-Etienne who was stoned to death.
He has in his left hand the stones that killed him and on the other hand the palm
which is the symbol of eternal glory.