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Sainte Jeanne d'Arc Church, Nice

Coordinates: 43°42′48.28″N 7°15′45.36″E / 43.7134111°N 7.2626000°E / 43.7134111; 7.2626000
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Church of Saint Joan of Arc
Sainte Jeanne d'Arc (French)
Façade of the church
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
DistrictDiocese of Nice
ProvinceArchdiocese of Marseille
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusParish church
LeadershipP. Guy Largillière[1]
Location
LocationNice, France
Geographic coordinates43°42′48.28″N 7°15′45.36″E / 43.7134111°N 7.2626000°E / 43.7134111; 7.2626000
Architecture
Architect(s)Louis Castel, Jacques Droz
TypeChurch
StyleArt deco
Groundbreaking1914 (1914) (crypt)
Completed1934[2]
Specifications
Length59 m (194 ft)[2]
Width43 m (141 ft)[2]
Height (max)Nave: 25 m (82 ft)[2]
Steeple: 64 m (210 ft)[2]
MaterialsReinforced concrete
Official name: Église Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc
Designated12 June 1992
Reference no.PA00080940[3]
DenominationÉglise
Website
nice.cef.fr

The Church of Saint Joan of Arc (French: Sainte Jeanne d'Arc) is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Nice, France. Noticeable for its original architecture, the church is dedicated to Joan of Arc.

The style of this church is controversial among the inhabitants of Nice, judged ugly by some. The church is sometime nicknamed "the Meringue" for its white color.

History

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In 1914, Father Quillery was appointed parish priest of the new parish of Saint Jérome. The first projects for a new church are proposed. French architect Louis Castel initiated in 1914 its construction and built a crypt. After World War I, another French architect Jacques Droz constructed in 1924 a second crypt.[2] Both crypts are the support of the new building. In 1931 a concrete basement is laid over the two crypts.[2] Between 1932 and 1934, the church was built using reinforced concrete. Droz employed the technique of the thin shell concrete for the domes that have a thickness of 45 centimetres (18 in) at the base but only 8 centimetres (3.1 in) at the top.[2]

Architecture

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The use of reinforced concrete, a new material at that time, allowed an original construction in a style influenced by Art Deco. Eight ellipsoidal domes support three larger ovoid domes. In the interior, these three large domes are only supported by four pillars, which allows an astonishing interior volume with 25 metres (82 ft) high vaults.[2] The angular form of the 64 metres (210 ft)[2] steeple is in opposition with the strong curves of the domes.

One of the frescoes of Eugène Klementieff
Exterior view of the church

The 95 m2 (1,020 sq ft) fresco paintings of the stations of the Cross were executed by Eugène Klementieff in 1934.[2] The paintings are influenced by Russian Cubism, Italian Quattrocento and Byzantine Orthodox icons.[2]

References

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Citations
  1. ^ "Paroisse Saint-Jérôme" (in French). Diocèse de Nice. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Guide available in the church
  3. ^ Mérimée database 1992
Bibliography
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Media related to Église Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc de Nice at Wikimedia Commons