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Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame d'Aix-les-Bains, originally named collegiate Notre-Dame-de-l'Assumption, was built at the end of the 19th century in a style inspired by Byzantine art. Located in the heart of Aix-les-Bains, in Savoie, it replaces or completes the earlier religious buildings of the city. Its hybrid architecture, combining Byzantine influences (coupoles, central cross) and Romanesque (cradle vaults), reflects the eclectic currents of the era, where architects drew from various stylistic heritages to create significant monuments.

The project was born in 1875 under the impetus of parish priest Pavy, who launched an architectural contest won by Arthur Bertin. The work, entrusted to the Bonna company, started in 1890 and officially finished in 1892, although modifications continued until 1905. The bell tower, 55 meters high and covered with a green oxidized roof, quickly becomes a major visual landmark. Inside, the Way of the Cross, reported by General Forester in Spain during the Napoleonic countryside, and the paintings of the twelve apostles (17th century, probably Italian) enrich his artistic heritage.

Integrated into the urban fabric, the church plays a central role in Aixese life: its parvis serves as a public parking lot on weekdays, illustrating its practical as well as spiritual anchor. Partially classified as historical monuments (cross path under classification, protected paintings since 1976), it embodies both the Savoyard religious heritage and the urban transformations of the late 19th century, where the cultural buildings became symbols of modernity and social cohesion.

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