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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The chapel of the Old Conde Solitude, built between 1964 and 1968, is a notable example of modern religious architecture. The archdiocese of Cambrai entrusts his creation to architect Guillaume Gillet, then renowned for his work on the church of Notre-Dame de Royan. The project, funded by local and diocesan funds, fits into a square plan with an angled choir, a metal frame and a copper roof of hyperbolic paraboloid form. The white painted raw concrete walls alternate with wood logs and stained stained glass windows, creating a striking visual contrast.

The first stone was laid on 5 July 1964 after four years of fundraising by a local committee. The project, conducted with engineer Robert Lourdin, was completed in 1968. The chapel, originally owned by the archdiocese, was returned to the commune of Vieux-Condé in 1994. Located in the isolated district of La Solitude, it includes a Baptistery, a catechism room and a sacristy. However, since 2010, its condition has deteriorated due to water infiltration and vandalism on stained glass windows.

Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 5 February 2003, the chapel embodies a period of religious architectural renewal in France. Its style, marked by raw materials and innovative geometric shapes, reflects post-war experiments. Despite its heritage importance, problems of sealing and degradation are now threatening its conservation. The structure remains a unique testimony to the dialogue between modernity and spirituality in the Hauts-de-France.

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