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Origin and history

The co-cathedral Notre-Dame de l'Annunciation de Bourg-en-Bresse, built at the beginning of the 16th century, was originally the Marian chapel of Sainte-Marie de Bourg, attested from the 13th century. A local legend tells us that a shepherd would have discovered an image of the Virgin in a willow near the Spanish gate, leading to the construction of a black wooden oratory and statue. In 1258 a chapel served by Burgian priests was mentioned, and in 1343 Count Aymon de Savoie established a rich foundation there. The reputation of the sanctuary grew, attracting the inhabitants of Bourg to the detriment of the former parish of Brou.

The construction of the present co-cathedral began in 1505 under the impetus of Jean de Loriol, Bishop of Nice and Abbé Commendataire of Ambronay, who obtained the union of the priory of Brou and the parish of Saint Peter at the Mense of Notre-Dame. Marguerite of Austria, the widow of Philibert de Savoie, played a key role in permanently transferring Saint-Pierre parish to Notre-Dame, despite the political tensions between Savoie and France. Pope Julius II erected Bourg as a diocese in 1515, but it was abolished in 1534 after Marguerite's death, although the church retained its canon chapter.

The building became collegiate after the Revolution, losing its bell tower destroyed by order of Albitte in 1794, then restored between 1911 and 1914 by Tony Ferret in a different style. Ranked a historic monument in 1914, it was erected as a co-cathedral of the diocese of Belley-Ars in 1992. Its architecture combines flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance, with a pentagonal bedside with bays decorated with stained glass, some of which date from the 16th century. The stained glass windows of the choir, restored in the 19th century by Eugène Oudinot and Edmond Lechevallier-Chevignard, illustrate Marian and biblical scenes.

The choir stalls, carved around 1530 by Pierre Mochet, combine Gothic and Renaissance motifs, while the organ, rebuilt after a storm in 1927, now counts 42 games. The bell tower, 70 meters high, houses 23 bells, including a bumblebee of nearly 4 tons, and a mechanical carillon unique in the Rhône-Alpes. Renovation works (roof, stained glass, clock) have been in progress since 2024.

The history of the co-cathedral is also marked by conflicts, such as the threat of destruction in 1536 during the French invasion, or the dispersion of its original stained glass windows after 1870, partially found in the departmental archives. Its current status reflects its heritage and spiritual importance, between medieval heritage and modern adaptations.

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