Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Lille came into being in 1233, when the provost of Saint-Pierre authorized the construction of a parish chapel dedicated to Saint Marie-Madeleine in the suburbs of Lille. This chapel, located outside the ramparts until 1667, was demolished during the expansion of the city and the construction of the new fortifications by Vauban. This event divides the parish into two parts: one part integrated in Lille, the other giving birth to the commune of La Madeleine. The decision to rebuild the church inside a bastion was taken in 1675, marking the beginning of an ambitious project.

The construction of the new church began in 1675 with the signing of a contract for the choir, entrusted to master mason François Vollant, brother of architect Simon Vollant. Work progressed rapidly: the choir and facade were partially completed as early as 1676, allowing an opening to worship on 1 January 1677. The dome and chapels of the rotunda were completed between 1701 and 1707, the year of official consecration by the Archbishop of Cologne, Joseph Clement of Bavaria. However, the church suffered significant damage during the Austrian siege of 1708, requiring a restoration entrusted to architect Thomas-Joseph Gombert, also involved in the construction of the church of St Andrew.

Ranked a historic monument in 1965, the church was decommissioned in 1989 for security reasons, after being banned from the public in 1969. Restored in the context of Lille 2004, it is transformed into a place of temporary exhibitions, hosting contemporary artists such as Miwa Yanagi, Chiharu Shiota or Peter Greenaway. Its eclectic architecture, combining Flemish renaissance, antique and Baroque influences, makes it a unique building in the region. The choir still retains original elements, including paintings by Jacob van Oost le Jeune and André Corneille Lens, as well as stained glass by Olivier Durieux.

The church is distinguished by its Greek cross plan and its central rotunda, surmounted by a rare dome in the North of France. His nickname, "La Grande Madeleine", comes from his massive silhouette and his baroque style. Although disacralized, it remains a major testimony of the religious and architectural heritage of Lille, linked to the city's urban history, notably through the expansion of its ramparts in the 17th century. Its facade, restored in 2008, and its richly decorated interior make it a must-see cultural site.

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