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Key figures

Origin and history

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of St.Corbinian d-Evry, dedicated to Bishop Corbinien de Freising (VIIth century), is located in the Essonne department, in Évry-Courcouronnes. Its construction, completed in 1995, makes it the only cathedral built ex nihilo in metropolitan France in the twentieth century, apart from special cases such as Lille or Créteil. It replaces the former Saint-Spire Cathedral of Corbeil-Essonnes, the diocese having been refocused on Évry in 1989 to align with the administrative capital of the department.

The project, launched in 1988 by Bishop Guy Herbulot, was presented to the Vatican in 1990. The first stone was laid in 1991, but work started only in July 1992. The foundations were completed at the end of 1992, the concrete frame (two cylinders) completed in May 1993, and the bells installed in 1994. The cathedral was opened for worship in April 1995, before its official inauguration in 1996 and its dedication in May 1997, followed by the visit of Pope John Paul II in August 1997.

Designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, the cathedral is inspired by Byzantine and Romanesque forms, with a cylindrical plan of 38 meters in diameter, covered with 840,000 artisanal bricks. The roof, pierced by zenithal windows, is surmounted by 24 lindens symbolizing the hours of day, the apostles and the tribes of Israel. The interior, organized around a nave of 29 meters in diameter, incorporates works of contemporary art (vitrals by Kim En Joong, sculptures by Gérard Garouste) and furniture designed by Botta in Burgundy oak.

Funding, estimated at 90 million francs, was provided by the Work of the Cardinal's Buildings, the Archdiocese of Munich (in Evry), patrons and gifts of the faithful. The Ministry of Culture participated to the tune of 13 million francs for the Sacred Art Centre integrated into the building. The cathedral, labeled "Twentieth Century Heritage" in 2011, can accommodate 1,400 faithful and remains a symbol of religious architectural renewal.

The controversy surrounding its construction focused on its opportunity in a context of dechristianization, as well as on its avant-garde style (circle vs. plan in traditional cross). Some also saw a rivalry with the mosque of Évry-Courcouronnes, built simultaneously, although the Khánh-Anh Pagoda has since illustrated local interreligious coexistence. An unfounded rumour attributed its financing to the State, whereas only 13 million francs came from public funds.

In 2025, the Cardinal's Buildings Association voted for a €50,000 participation for work to seal terraces, out of a total cost of €55,000. The still active cathedral also houses the Paul Del Travailer Museum and a sacred art centre, confirming its cultural and spiritual role in the Essonne.

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