Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Masonic lodge of Dole, founded around 1760 under the name Silence inviolable, was renamed Val d'Amour in 1785. Originally installed in rented premises, in 1861 it acquired a building transformed by architect Philippe Ruffier and decorated by painter Jules Mugnier. This temple, located on 1 rue de la Bière and 5 quai Pasteur, becomes an emblematic place for local Freemasons.

The interior is distinguished by two major spaces: the banquet room, adorned with a panorama of Dolois landscapes seen through arcades, and the temple, with abstract panels separated by pilasters. These spaces, rich in Masonic symbols, also house ancient ritual furniture. The building, owned by the Grand Orient of France until 2015, was sold in 2016 due to standards upgrades made complex by its ranking.

Ranked historic monument by decree of 8 December 2009, the building illustrates 19th century Masonic architecture in Franche-Comté. Its location in Dole, in the Jura department, makes it a rare testimony to the history of regional secret societies. Mugnier's decors and Ruffier's structure underline its heritage importance, despite its change of ownership and vocation after 2016.

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