Two historic Catholic churches burn down in France in one day

The Chapel of Sainte-Anne-de-Rocher in Brittany after the fire. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

On June 12, 2026, two major fires broke out in France within several hours of each other, dealing a heavy blow to the country’s historical heritage. This was reported by LifeSiteNews.

First, flames engulfed the Sainte-Anne-des-Rochers chapel in the town of Trégastel in Brittany. The fire quickly spread across the roof of the building, which was built in 1635, causing about 75% of the roof and wooden structures to collapse.

Thirty-two firefighters worked at the scene and managed to save part of the interior furnishings and liturgical items. It is known that the chapel had been closed to visitors since March 2026 because of the unsafe condition of its structures, for which there were insufficient funds to carry out repairs.

Several hours later, a second fire broke out in a media library located in the former monastic courtyard of the cathedral in the town of Condom, in the Gers department in southwestern France. The fire destroyed the media library and part of the municipal archives, including unique volumes dating back to the 16th century.

According to eyewitnesses, the flames rose more than seven meters high before rescuers brought the situation under control. Police are currently investigating the causes of both incidents.

French experts and cultural heritage advocates say these tragedies have exposed a systemic problem in the maintenance of religious monuments in the provinces. The cost of restoring such sites often exceeds the capacity of local budgets.

As the UOJ reported, Europe has recorded a record number of arson attacks on Christian churches.

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