Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Joseph de Fontmaure boarding school was built between 1880 and 1881 in Chamalières, Puy-de-Dôme, to accommodate a boarding school dedicated to deaf and mute girls. Designed by architect Charles Couteau, the building adopts an eclectic style combining Gothic and Romanesque influences, reflecting the architectural trends of the late 19th century. The neo-Roman chapel, decorated with stained glass by Félix Gaudin and Lucien Chatain, as well as statues, bears witness to a careful decor typical of the religious establishments of the period. Domestic distribution combines a classic approach with rationalist principles inspired by Viollet-le-Duc.

In 1903, the boarding school was converted to a clinic, then integrated into the CHU of Clermont-Ferrand. Requisitioned during the two world wars, he permanently ceased his hospital activity in 1999. The site, listed as historical monuments in 2011 for its totality (building, chapel, park with basin and statues), was then purchased by the city of Chamalières. A complete restoration, launched in 2018, allows its transformation into a multifunctional cultural hub, the FCC (Fontmaure Art Culture), inaugurated in 2023.

Today, the site houses an art library, a museum space dedicated to the painter Victor Charreton, a municipal school of engraving, and exhibition halls. The desacralized chapel, preserving its heritage elements, now hosts recitals and cultural events. This project is part of a dynamic of rehabilitation of local heritage, combining historical preservation and cultural innovation. Gaudin and Chatain stained glass windows, as well as original architectural elements, remain major assets of the site.

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