Discover the scenic Bao Nham

(Baonghean) - The stone church and rock formations of Bao Nham in Bao Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district) are architectural works serving the religious needs of the Catholic community of Bao Nham parish and are also an attractive destination for tourists who enjoy exploration.

Panoramic view of Bao Nham stone church.

According to surviving documents, around the early 1880s, a French priest named Adolphe Klinglé – also known as Father Thông – came here to preach and chose this "prime" location to build the church. He believed that this area resembled the location of a church in France where he himself served as priest. Construction of the church began in the autumn of 1888. After 16 years of construction, the Bảo Nham stone church was officially completed in the spring of 1904.

Bao Nham Church is situated on a 7,750m2 plot of land. It was one of the largest stone churches in Indochina at the time and had the best acoustics compared to other churches in Vietnam.

The church was built in the Gothic style, modeled after the Lucerne cathedral (France). The stones were carefully fitted together by the builders.

In front of Bao Nham stone church.

Father Martino Nguyen Xuan Hoang, parish priest of Bao Nham district, said: The materials for building the church were quarried from Lam Son mountain (Thanh Hoa), carefully cut and shaped, each piece measuring 0.8m long and 0.4m wide, and transported by river to the site. The construction workers were selected from all over Indochina.

The church is 37 meters high and 14 meters wide, with a 28-meter-high bell tower. Atop the tower sits a rooster made of antimony alloy, measuring 0.8 meters long and 0.35 meters wide, which can rotate with the wind. The tower houses three bronze bells; the heaviest weighs 800 kg, the second 400 kg, and the third 180 kg. All three bells were donated to the church from France by the sister of Father Andon phon Kơlinh. In addition, surrounding the church are 24 smaller stone towers, each 2.5 meters high. In front of the cathedral, on the two pillars of the church gate, are two elaborately carved stone lions.

A corner of the Bao Nham stone church.

The Bao Nham church and rock formations are not only places of worship and cultural activities for the local parishioners, but also cultural works of high architectural and artistic value.

About 200 meters from the church is a rocky area, a beautiful scenic spot associated with ancient stories in the religious beliefs of the people.

The rock formation covers a total area of ​​5678 square meters, with a height of 40 meters from the ground to the summit. Taking advantage of the rock formation's beauty, the local people and the priests who came to manage the area built a stone staircase leading to the summit and a path down around the base. Along the way are large statues depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross, creating a scenic and pilgrimage route for visitors.

The path leading up has 171 S-shaped steps, resembling the head and body of a baby dragon clinging to the rock, designed and built by Father Peter Nguyen Van Hanh from 1947 to 1950. The path leading down behind resembles the dragon's tail, consisting of 137 steps, designed and built by Father Peter Nguyen Van Duyet in 2000.

Father Martino Nguyen Xuan Hoang, parish priest of Bao Nham district, said that they are developing the stone church and Bao Nham rock formation into an attractive tourist destination.

Climbing the 91st step, visitors are greeted by the first Stations of the Cross, where a semi-open grotto houses a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes and an altar for offerings. The naturally formed grotto has a vaulted ceiling with intricate patterns and rich colors, further enhancing the sacred and ethereal atmosphere of the sanctuary. The entrance is 6 meters high and 5.4 meters wide, with a depth of 14 meters from the entrance to the base of the altar. Next to the semi-open grotto is a smaller grotto containing a statue of the Divine Mercy, covering an area of ​​approximately 8 square meters.

Descending 69 steps leads to the Sacred Garden, with its lake and lush greenery, where visitors can sit in the shade to contemplate and immerse themselves in nature.

From the top of the rocky outcrop, visitors can look in all four directions, witnessing firsthand the lush beauty of the villages in Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, and Nam Dan districts, with their charming houses with bright red tiled roofs surrounded by vast rice fields. In the distance, a river carries heavy silt, enriching the fields and bringing bountiful harvests and a prosperous life to the local people.

Bao Nham rock formation.

Descending 69 steps leads to the Sacred Garden, with its lake and lush greenery, where visitors can sit in the shade to contemplate and immerse themselves in nature.

From the top of the rocky outcrop, visitors can look in all four directions, witnessing firsthand the lush beauty of the villages in Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, and Nam Dan districts, with their charming houses with bright red tiled roofs surrounded by vast rice fields. In the distance, a river carries heavy silt, enriching the fields and bringing bountiful harvests and a prosperous life to the local people.

From here, visitors can also reach Dien Thanh beach with its clear water and fine sand, visit Cuong Temple - Cua Hien (Dien Chau), swim at Bai Lu beach (Nghi Loc), Cua Lo beach, and more.

The Bao Nham Church and rock formations are a promising tourist destination in Nghe An province in general, and Yen Thanh district in particular. Visitors are captivated by the picturesque and tranquil natural landscape. Surrounding the church are lush green gardens, creating a peaceful atmosphere punctuated by the gentle chirping of birds and fresh air. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals have visited this place annually for sightseeing, research, and admiration.

PV