Witnessing the over 100-year-old stone church in Nghe An

Among all the tourist attractions in Nghe An today, perhaps Bao Nham stone church is the place that leaves a strong impression on many visitors. Not only does it have deep historical and spiritual values, this place is also a famous destination that attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world.

Bao Nham Stone Church is located in Tram hamlet, Bao Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, is one of the largest and oldest Catholic churches in Nghe An today.

Located near National Highway 7A, Bao Nham Church is only about 50km north of Vinh City. To get here, from the city center, visitors just need to follow National Highway 1A then turn onto Road 7A, then go about 15km more to reach Bao Nham Stone Church.

History of Bao Nham ancient stone church

According to many archives, in the past, in Yen Thanh area, there was a French priest named Adolphe Klinglé who came to preach. He chose a location with many parishioners to build Bao Nham church and Bao Thanh commune was chosen by him.

Construction of Bao Nham ancient stone church began in 1888 and was completed in 1904. Since then, this church has become an indispensable part of Yen Thanh land and a spiritual place for many parishioners in the area.

Unique architecture of Bao Nham stone church

Bao Nham Stone Church was built on an open area of ​​over 7,000m2 in the Luoxo church architecture style, with French Gothic style. All construction materials were taken from the Thanh Hoa mountains. Each stone was cut to standard size and transported by water to Yen Thanh for construction.

These stone blocks, after arriving at the construction site, will undergo a meticulous carving and chiseling process before being used to build this massive cathedral.

Bao Nham Church is 37m long, 14m wide with the highest point on the top of the bell tower being 28m. The entire architecture of the church is very large, with the highlight being the lightning rod in the shape of a rooster, made from antimony alloy that can rotate with the wind. In front of the church are two welcome gates, on top of which are two elaborately carved stone lions. The church roofs also have 24 small towers on the edge, 2.5m high and made of stone.

After completing construction, Bao Nham stone church was evaluated by French architects as having the best acoustics in Vietnam.

Bell tower at Bao Nham church

The church's bell tower system includes three bronze bells, weighing 800kg, 400kg and 180kg respectively. These were also gifts from Father Adolphe Klinglé's sister to the church after the project was completed.

Interior space of Bao Nham Parish Church

Entering the cathedral, visitors will feel the solemn and splendid beauty with the image of the semicircular pointed dome. To create this roof system, each large stone block will be meticulously carved, then assembled using modern techniques through many stages to become solid domes but still have to meet high requirements for artistic value.

The next special feature that cannot be ignored is the glass windows painted with religious themes, images of Christian saints and apostles with many brilliant colors, sparkling in the sunlight.

Explore Bao Nham rock relic near the stone church

Not far from Bao Nham stone church, about 200m further, visitors will reach Bao Nham rock cliff area. This is a place related to fairy tales and beliefs passed down from generation to generation of local people.

When reaching the top of the cliff, visitors can admire the rich beauty of the village roofs of Yen Thanh district, Nghe An.

To climb to the top of Bao Nham cliff, you will have to climb 171 winding S-shaped steps, like a majestic dragon stretching itself to cling to the cliff. This unique system of steps was designed and built by Father Peter Nguyen Van Hanh in 3 years (from 1947 to 1950).

The path leading down behind the cliff is also shaped like a dragon's tail, with a total of 137 steps, designed and built by Father Peter Nguyen Van Duyet in 2000.

At the 90th step, visitors will see a secret grotto, where the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes is located. At the 69th step, there is a holy garden with a lake and many types of green trees. Here, visitors can relax and enjoy the fresh air of nature. In addition, this area is also decorated with many cute animal statues like a miniature park.

Through many historical events, Bao Nham stone church still retains its majestic appearance, strong architecture and unique historical and religious values. If you have the opportunity to visit Nghe An, do not miss the interesting experiences here.