Opening of the chapel 1973 (≈ 1973)
Opening of the place of worship to the public.
4 décembre 2014
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 4 décembre 2014 (≈ 2014)
Official protection of the chapel and its grounds.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
3e quart du XXe siècle
Construction period
Construction period 3e quart du XXe siècle (≈ 2062)
Design by Marcel Breuer in the 1960s and 1970s.
Heritage classified
The ecumenical chapel, as well as the cadastral plot C 171 on which it is situated: classification by order of 4 December 2014
Key figures
Marcel Breuer - Architect
Designer of the chapel, inspired by the Bauhaus.
Origin and history
Flaine's ecumenical chapel, located in the Flaine Forum station in Arâches-la-Frasse, was inaugurated in 1973. It embodies a synthesis of Marcel Breuer's architectural research, including his interest in folding materials in the 1930s and his experiments on modeling volumes from the 1950s onwards. The building presents itself as a monumental sculpture composed of three intertwined geometric masses, reflecting a quest for abstraction and gross expression of matter, characteristic of the work of its architect.
The interior space respects the liturgical principles of the Second Vatican Council, incorporating custom-designed furniture. The chapel also illustrates Breuer's desire to reconcile form and function, while creating an open spiritual place, in keeping with the ecumenical expectations of the time. Its bold architecture, both minimalist and expressive, makes it a striking testimony of modern sacred art in France.
Classified as a Historical Monument by order of 4 December 2014, the chapel also includes the cadastral plot on which it is built (C 171). Owned by an inter-municipal union, it remains an emblematic place of Flaine, mixing religious heritage and architectural innovation. The accuracy of its geographical location is estimated to be poor (note 5/10), based on available data.
Marcel Breuer, an American naturalized Hungarian architect, has a sculptural approach to concrete and volumes, inherited from his collaborations with the Bauhaus. His work at Flaine is part of a period where he explores pure geometric shapes, while meeting the concrete needs of a contemporary place of worship. The ecumenical chapel thus embodies a dialogue between liturgical tradition and architectural avant-garde.
Available sources (Monumentum, Mérimée base) highlight its status as a protected monument, as well as its approximate address: 50 Flaine, 74300 Arâches-la-Frasse. The Insee code of the commune (74014) confirms its anchoring in Haute-Savoie, in the heart of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
