Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Rémy de Baccarat, originally built in the 19th century, was destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt between 1953 and 1957 by architect Nicolas Kazis. The latter adopted a modern style marked by the omnipresence of the triangle, symbol of the Holy Trinity. The building, classified as a historical monument in 2013, includes unique elements such as a 55-metre campanile and stained glass windows composed of 20,000 pieces of Baccarat crystal, distributed in 150 shades.

The interior decoration, signed by artists such as Claude Idoux and Étienne Martin, includes wrought iron works, statues (including a Virgin with the Child by François Brochet), and a stone and crystal cross path. The wooden ceiling, weighing 19 tons, and the large organs of Jacquot Lavergne (1958, 3,660 pipes) complete this architectural ensemble. The outer claustras, with 4,000 coloured crystal slabs, illustrate abstract patterns inspired by Genesis.

The church is organized according to a Latin cross plan, with a crypt and low level catechism rooms. The stained glass windows of the choir represent the twelve Apostles, while labyrinths on the ground and on the walls evoke the path of Calvary. This monument, owned by the municipality, symbolizes post-war reconstruction and local know-how, thanks in particular to the collaboration with the Baccarat Crystallery.

Classified as historical monuments by order of 17 June 2013, the entire church (including its campanile) is protected for its innovative architecture and artistic heritage. Its liturgical furniture, such as the ambon or the tabernacle inlaid with crystal, reflects a fusion between modernity and religious tradition. The building remains a major testimony of the 20th century sacred heritage in Lorraine.

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