Notre Dame du Haut, also known as Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Haut de Ronchamp or Notre Dame du Ronchamp, is a Roman Catholic chapel in Ronchamp, France that was built in 1954. It is an immediately recognisable and distinctive building that is considered on of Le Corbusier and the 20th century's most important works. Beautiful, serene and unique, it is a must-see for architecture lovers and regular tourists alike. Just find a vacation rental in Burgundy and pay a visit to this extraordinary architectural gem yourself.
Franco-Swiss architect Le Corbusier was one of the 20th century's leading architects. He largely designed homes and apartment buildings and was interested in how people interacted with the spaces in which they dwelled. He wanted to come up with new, pleasant and efficient ways for living in the modern world. Notre Dame du Haut was, therefore, a rather unusual work in his oeuvre.
Franco-Swiss architect Le Corbusier was one of the 20th century's leading architects. He largely designed homes and apartment buildings and was interested in how people interacted with the spaces in which they dwelled. He wanted to come up with new, pleasant and efficient ways for living in the modern world. Notre Dame du Haut was, therefore, a rather unusual work in his oeuvre.
Commissioned in 1950, to replace the Catholic church that had been on the same site and destroyed during WWII, the church marked a new start. Previously a long established pilgrimage site that was steeped in tradition and incredibly ornate, it was decided that the new structure should be a pure space devoid of extravagance. While the resulting building has elements of Corbusier's concepts about architecture, it does not match the prevailing styles of the time or, indeed, his own aesthetic. It is, instead a sculptural space that allows for meditation and reflection.
Located atop a hill, it is an irregular sculptural form that is complex in some senses but has a simple plan and is devoid of much ornamentation, instead, being a stark white ethereal space. Its gentle curving walls support a massive curvilinear roof that rises up to the heavens in an iconic exterior. The interior is a space of beautiful light effects, where the light is directed through the sparse windows and coloured (note that it is not stained) glass. This heightens the meditative and religious atmosphere of the building and one's experience of it.
Under the guardianship of the private foundation Association de l’Œuvre de Notre-Dame du Haut, the church attracts 80,000 visitors each year and for good reason. It is a marvelous building that allows for a unique visiting experience and one of France's true architectural gems.
Located atop a hill, it is an irregular sculptural form that is complex in some senses but has a simple plan and is devoid of much ornamentation, instead, being a stark white ethereal space. Its gentle curving walls support a massive curvilinear roof that rises up to the heavens in an iconic exterior. The interior is a space of beautiful light effects, where the light is directed through the sparse windows and coloured (note that it is not stained) glass. This heightens the meditative and religious atmosphere of the building and one's experience of it.
Under the guardianship of the private foundation Association de l’Œuvre de Notre-Dame du Haut, the church attracts 80,000 visitors each year and for good reason. It is a marvelous building that allows for a unique visiting experience and one of France's true architectural gems.
Photo credit: Valueyou / CC BY-SA 3.0
