Historical Monument 7 avril 2006 (≈ 2006)
Protection of the church and its court.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
3e quart du XXe siècle
Construction of church
Construction of church 3e quart du XXe siècle (≈ 2062)
Replacement of the old chapel by a modern building.
Heritage classified
The entire church, as well as the parvis in front of this building (Box AD 118): inscription by order of 7 April 2006
Key figures
Paul de Noyers - Architect
Designer of the church and civic center.
Bruno Schmeltz - Glass painter
Author of non-figurative stained glass.
Origin and history
The Church of the Holy Trinity of Capvern-les-Bains, built in the 3rd quarter of the 20th century, is distinguished by its bold reinforced concrete architecture, typical of the 1960s. It forms a bridge over a valley, connecting the two slopes of the valley, and integrates into a larger urban project, the civic centre, which also includes the municipal market and the post office. Its square, built back from the rue des Thermes, creates a transition space between the building and the city. The bell tower-wall, coated with pink sandstone, brings a regionalist touch contrasting with the dominant horizontal lines in raw concrete.
The building replaces an old chapel that has become insufficient, located near the buvette-promenoir at the bottom of the rue des Thermes. The architect Paul de Noyers exploited the cover of the creek by the new rue Jean-Paul-Taillade to design the church as a bridge, optimizing the urban space. The side façades alternate wood panelling and concrete netting with non-figurative stained glass, signed by the painter Bruno Schmeltz. The interior retains period furniture, while the space under the church served as a covered market, illustrating its multifunctional vocation.
Ranked Historical Monument by decree of 7 April 2006, the church embodies a synthesis between architectural modernity and landscape integration. Its three accesses (main square, Dr. Ticier's street, stairway from Jean-Paul-Taillade Street) underline its role as a place of passage and assembly. The stained glass windows, more developed in the north, and the blind elevations to the east and west reinforce its monumental and functional character, anchored in the thermal and urban context of Capvern.
The project is part of a comprehensive approach to urban renewal, where the church becomes a symbol of post-World War II reconstruction, combining technical innovation (apparent concrete, bold structures) and response to community needs. The protection of the building also includes its court, stressing the importance of public space in this civic and religious complex.
