Eglise paroissiale Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc (ancienne église Saint-Pierre)
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise paroissiale Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc (ancienne église Saint-Pierre), located in Gien (Loiret), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Gien, Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.6851, 2.6312
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00098785
Born from the ashes of the war, the church of Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc in Gien combines 1950s brick architecture, sumptuous stained glass windows by Max Ingrand and ceramics by Henri Navarre in a striking testimony to French reconstruction.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
In the heart of Gien, a town devastated by the bombings of June 1940, the church of Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc stands out as one of the most unique monuments in the Loiret region. Inaugurated in 1954, it embodies the determination of a community to rise above its ordeal and create a total work of art in which architecture, glass and sculpture interact in rare harmony. What radically distinguishes this place from any traditional religious building is the absolute coherence of its artistic programme. Architects, master glassmakers and ceramists worked together to create a resolutely modern sanctuary in Gien, without ever abandoning the profound spirituality that defines the great churches of France. Max Ingrand's stained glass windows, with their luminous palette and slabs of glass, transform the nave into a setting of coloured light from the early hours of the morning. The terracotta capitals sculpted by Henri Navarre for the nave and choir, and by Georges Muguet for the aisles, reveal a mastery of architectural ceramics that echoes Gienno's earthenware tradition. As for the organs, designed by the architect Paul Gélis and built by the Strasbourg organ builder Roethinger, their sound fills the nave with an unexpected depth. The church's urban setting also contributes to its appeal: located in a town that has preserved the remains of its castle and the majestic banks of the Loire, Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc is part of a rich heritage trail, between reconstruction and the memory of medieval art. It's a building that you can't just visit, but feel.
Architecture
The church of Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc is a work of religious architecture from the French reconstruction period, designed by the architects Paul and Jean Gélis in a spirit of modernity. The building has a Latin cross plan, extended by side aisles, in the tradition of large parish churches. Its distinctive feature is the systematic use of brick as the facing material, giving the whole a warmth of colour that limestone could not offer, while paying tribute to local craftsmanship. Inside, the space is punctuated by arcades whose terracotta capitals are a veritable treasure trove: sculpted by Henri Navarre for the nave and choir, and by Georges Muguet for the aisles, they feature highly refined motifs, halfway between symbolic figuration and the ornamental abstraction typical of the decorative arts of the 1950s. Max Ingrand's stained glass windows, made of thick slabs of glass set in concrete - a technique known as "cast glass" or "dalle de verre" - create a luminous envelope that varies the hues of the space according to the time of day and the season. The great organs, whose case was designed by Paul Gélis himself and whose action was created by Roethinger of Strasbourg, complete this coherent whole. Five bells, cast by the famous Bollée firm, bring life to the bell tower, whose vertical silhouette is reminiscent of the tradition of bell towers in the Loire Valley.
Related Figures
Anne de Beaujeu — fille de Louis XI et régente de France, commanditaire de la collégiale royale Saint-Étienne inaugurée en 1514François Pagot — architecte de l'église Saint-Pierre, ouverte aux fidèles en 1832Paul Gélis — architecte principal de l'église reconstruite (1954), auteur du dessin des orguesJean Gélis — co-architecte de l'édifice reconstruit, associé à Paul GélisMax Ingrand — maître verrier, auteur des vitraux de la nef et du décor en dalles de verreHenri Navarre — sculpteur céramiste, auteur des chapiteaux de la nef et du chœurGeorges Muguet — sculpteur, auteur des chapiteaux des bas-côtésJeanne d'Arc — patronne de l'église, dont la troupe traversa Gien en 1429 lors de la chevauchée vers Reims
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise paroissiale Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc (ancienne église Saint-Pierre) located?
Eglise paroissiale Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc (ancienne église Saint-Pierre) is located in Gien, Loiret department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Eglise paroissiale Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc (ancienne église Saint-Pierre) built?
Eglise paroissiale Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc (ancienne église Saint-Pierre) dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Eglise paroissiale Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc (ancienne église Saint-Pierre) open to visitors?
Eglise paroissiale Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc (ancienne église Saint-Pierre) is currently closed to visitors.