The Gaudin workshop
The mosaics and stained glass of the basilica were made by the Gaudin workshop in Paris: Jean Gaudin (1879–1954), then his son Pierre Gaudin (1908–1973), glass painter and mosaic artist. The work lasted more than twenty years, from about 1933 to 1957.
In all, some 8,000 m² of mosaics cover the upper parts of the basilica and the crypt. The style follows the Romano-Byzantine tradition, with its gold backgrounds, but in a graphic language of the 20th century. The sculptures are by Robert Coin.
The great apse mosaic
Above the choir, the vault of the apse holds the most photographed mosaic in the basilica: Christ the Good Shepherd among his flock, with the Virgin Mary crowned with stars on one side and Saint Thérèse kneeling on the other.
Elsewhere, another mosaic shows Thérèse in majesty, surrounded by the four popes who shaped her story: Pius X, Benedict XV, Pius XI and Pius XII. The mosaics also illustrate Bible scenes and the Beatitudes. Gold dominates, and it changes with the daylight.
The stained glass
For the windows, Pierre Gaudin drew on the master glassmakers of the Middle Ages, using colour to create a light that invites contemplation. Blue dominates. On a sunny day, the whole nave takes on a warm, coloured glow.
A detail to look for: some windows show a hen gathering her chicks, after a saying in the Gospel. In the background you can recognise the chapel of the Carmel of Lisieux, where Thérèse lived.
These windows inspired our prints Window to Heaven, The Rose of Lisieux and Three Lights.
The Art Deco crypt
Completed in 1932, the crypt (or lower basilica) measures about 50 by 30 metres. It is entirely decorated with marble and mosaics, in the style of the 1925 Decorative Arts Exhibition. Around 1932, the British artist Robert Anning Bell designed the cartoon for the mosaic of its high altar.
In 1958, five mosaics were added to tell the key moments of Thérèse's life: her baptism, her First Communion, her healing, her entry into religious life and her death. For these dates, see Saint Thérèse in 10 dates.
An unfinished decoration
The original plan was to cover all the walls with mosaics and to show saints of France on the pillars. The war interrupted the work. After the death of the basilica's rector, Mgr Germain, in 1957, the mosaic artists went back to the workshop expecting to return soon. They never did, and some of the walls remain bare.
In 2025, for the centenary of the canonisation, the Lisieux Art and History Museum exhibited the Gaudin workshop's preparatory cartoons, a collection rarely shown.
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Fifteen prints of the Basilica of Lisieux, each in three colourways, numbered and in limited editions. Leave your email on a print's page to hear when we open.
Discover the printsWhere to look during your visit
- As you enter: look up at the dome and its mosaics.
- At the far end of the choir: the great Good Shepherd mosaic.
- Along the nave: the blue windows, at their best in late morning on a clear day.
- Downstairs: the crypt, its marble and golden mosaics, and the scenes from Thérèse's life.
For the history of the building, read our guide to the Basilica of Lisieux.
Frequently asked questions
Who made the mosaics of the Basilica of Lisieux?
The Gaudin workshop in Paris: Jean Gaudin and above all his son Pierre Gaudin, who designed the cartoons for the mosaics and the stained glass between the 1930s and 1957.
How many square metres of mosaics are there in the Basilica of Lisieux?
About 8,000 m², in the upper basilica and in the crypt.
What does the apse mosaic show?
Christ the Good Shepherd among his flock, with the Virgin Mary crowned with stars and Saint Thérèse kneeling.
What is a tessera?
A tessera (“tesselle” in French) is the small piece of stone, glass or enamel that makes up a mosaic.