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Origin and history

The church Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste de Dole, located in the Jura department in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, is a Catholic religious building built during the 3rd quarter of the 20th century. It is distinguished by an avant-garde architecture, marked by two hyperbolic paraboloids in concrete and laminated-paste wood, evoking according to its architect Anton Korady "the hands crossed by a person in prayer". The copper roof, designed to amplify the sound of the ten electronic bells, replaces avoided bronze bells to preserve the vibration structure. Outside, a monumental bronze gate carved by Maurice Calka illustrates biblical scenes such as the horsemen of the Apocalypse or the Virgin with the twelve stars, while the interior houses an altar of 14 tons and baptismal fonts surmounted by a fish, symbol of lichtus.

The project was born in 1960 following a national competition won by architects David and Korady, associated with the sculptor Maurice Calka, on land ceded by the St Charles congregation of Dole. The bells were baptized on 17 May 1964, and the church was consecrated on 14 June 1964. Its " kite" plan and its structure of twelve 20-metre beams, carried by river, reflect an innovative approach combining technical and symbolism. The crypt, made of raw concrete, houses a cross dug in the mass, reinforcing the contemplative aspect of space.

Recognized for its architectural heritage, the church was labeled "Twentieth Century Heritage" in 2004, then listed as a historical monument in 2006 before being ranked in 2007. Protected elements include facades, roofs, and interior decorations, as well as the floor of adjacent plots. The building, owned by an association, embodies a period of liturgical and artistic renewal in the Catholic Church, where sacred art dialogue with modern materials such as concrete and bronze.

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