Notre-Dame de Saint-Vincent, Lyon

Notre-Dame de Saint-Vincent, Lyon

Just like many of the churches in Lyon, Notre Dame de Saint Vincent has a historical connection to a monastery. The interior of this church reflects the humble preferences of the monks who once used it as their place of worship. It was originally constructed for the Augustinian monks who settled in the area back in 1319. However, between 1759 and 1789, the church underwent significant reconstruction to replace their aging chapel, which was deteriorating. This renovation was made possible thanks to the financial contribution of the crown prince, who honored it with the name Saint Louis.

During the French Revolution, the church had a change in purpose. Initially, it served as a storage facility and later as a hospital annex. Meanwhile, the military took control of the rest of the monastery, and in 1831, it was transformed into La Martinière College. In 1863, the church underwent a name change, and in 1862, its nave was expanded, and the facade was constructed by Franchet.

Unfortunately, in 1987, a fire destroyed the church, leading to its reconstruction in a 19th-century architectural style. It finally reopened its doors to the local congregation in 1992. While the interior may appear quite simple, there are some beautiful statues worth admiring. These include a statue of Saint Louis, one of the Virgin by Fabisch, another of Saint Vincent by an unidentified sculptor, and "The Baptism of Christ" by Dufraine. Additionally, the choir's paintings, such as "Light of Emmaus" and "The Annunciation" by Hamelin, were installed in 1996. If you look up at the apse's quarter-circle vault, you'll also find another work by Hamelin called "The Creator."

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Lyon. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Notre-Dame de Saint-Vincent on Map

Sight Name: Notre-Dame de Saint-Vincent
Sight Location: Lyon, France (See walking tours in Lyon)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Lyon, France

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