Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France The Danse Macabre of L'église Saint-Orien de Meslay-le-Grenet
AO Edited

The Danse Macabre of L'église Saint-Orien de Meslay-le-Grenet

A haunting medieval mural of the Danse Macabre graces the walls of this church.

Meslay-le-Grenet, France

Added By
Mictlān Tēcutli
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The mural of l’église Saint-Orien de Meslay-le-Grenet.   VVVCFFrance
The Danse macabries of l’église Saint-Orien de Meslay-le-Grenet.   VVVCFFrance
Interior of the church where the mural is located.   Peccadille
The church of Saint-Orien de Meslay-le-Grenet.   VVVCFFrance
Faded detail of the mural.   Peccadille
Detail of the Danse macabrie.   VVVCFFrance
View of the church.   Le Passant
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

On the walls of the church of L'église Saint-Orien de Meslay-le-Grenet, a fresco portrays an army of grinning cadavers, wielding bladed scythes and swords merrily as they apprehend a cross-section of medieval society—regardless of their social class. The grim figures beckon them with skeletal hands to the Danse Macabre.

Portrayed among the "invited dancers" are stoic knights, stolid peasants, arrogant princes and kings, pious bishops, noblewomen dressed in their finery, pretentious horseriding aristocrats, wealthy merchants, and even babies in their cradles.  

The Danse Macabre of the church of L'église Saint-Orien de Meslay-le-Grenet is believed to have been created during the 15th-century, although the artist/artists who painted the fresco are unfortunately unknown. 

There would have been plenty of morbid inspiration for the artist to draw from to complete this gothic masterpiece. The 15th-century was a desperately dark period in France's history, one marred by warfare and plague.

Nevertheless, the grim aesthetics of this medieval period were apparently not appreciated in later centuries, and the Danse Macabre of L'église Saint-Orien de Meslay-le-Grenet was covered in the early 18th-century.  

During the second half of the 19th-century, cracks in the plaster covering revealed the hidden murals that led to their restoration.  

Today, curious visitors to the church of Saint-Orien de Meslay-le-Grenet can appreciate the gothic beauty of the Danse Macabre, a timely reminder of our human mortality.  

Related Tags

Churches Plague Paintings

Know Before You Go

The church is open on most days and there is no entrance fee although a donation of €3 euros is recommended for visiting groups.

Community Contributors

Added By

Monsieur Mictlan

Published

November 2, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
The Danse Macabre of L'église Saint-Orien de Meslay-le-Grenet
1 Rue Saint-Orien
Meslay-le-Grenet, 28120
France
48.367475, 1.381043
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral

Chartres, France

miles away

Chartres Cathedral Crypt

Chartres, France

miles away

La Maison Picassiette

Chartres, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 692
Stories 72

Nearby Places

Labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral

Chartres, France

miles away

Chartres Cathedral Crypt

Chartres, France

miles away

La Maison Picassiette

Chartres, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 692
Stories 72

Related Places

  • The murder of St Thomas Becket

    Bramley, England

    The Church of St. James' Wall Paintings

    The walls of this village church are decorated by two unique religious works of art.

  • Pavia, Italy

    The Views of Pavia

    These 500-year-old frescoes depict the city in its glory days.

  • Romano di Lombardia, Italy

    Church of San Rocco

    Hundreds of plague victims were buried beneath this small, rural church.

  • Paintings on the outside of Suceviţa Monastery

    Sucevița, Romania

    Suceviţa Monastery

    This fortress-like monastery is covered with intricate frescoes.

  • Athens, Greece

    Choregic Monument of Thrasyllos (Panagia Speliotissa)

    An ancient Greek monument and a Byzantine church coexist inside this cave.

  • Fresco

    Bergamo, Italy

    Oratorio dei Morti

    At the entrance of this chapel is a fresco commemorating the dead from the plague outbreak of 1630.

  • Mansfield Traquair Centre

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Mansfield Traquair Centre

    Edinburgh’s version of the Sistine Chapel is this former church, with an interior covered in paintings done by one woman over the course of nearly a decade.

  • The bigger Triptych

    Ternant, France

    Triptyques de Ternant

    A small village church is home to two extraordinary triptych altarpieces that date back to the 15th century.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.