Albert, France – La Basilique (East Side) Postcard Early 20th Century

This postcard features the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Brebières in Albert, Somme, France, captured from its eastern side. The basilica’s most striking feature is its towering Byzantine-style bell tower, crowned with the famous golden statue of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. Designed by architect Édouard Duthoit, the basilica was completed in 1897 and became a symbol of religious devotion and architectural grandeur in the region.
The Basilica gained worldwide recognition during World War I, as it was heavily damaged during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. A shell struck the bell tower, causing the statue of the Virgin Mary to tilt precariously, yet remarkably it did not fall. Soldiers from both sides viewed the leaning statue as a prophetic symbol—a legend grew that the war would end only when the statue finally fell, which occurred in 1918.
After the war, the basilica was painstakingly reconstructed to its original design, preserving its historical significance and serving as a memorial to the destruction and resilience of the region.
The reverse side is blank.
Size ±: 14 cm x 9 cm
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