Notre Dame Basilica
Like two fingers without tops, they rise into the almost always blue sky above Nice - the towers of the Basilica Notre Dame. It is not only the youngest church in the city on the Riviera, but also the largest. Its foundation stone was laid in the 19th century and the church is not based on the famous cathedral in the French capital Paris but rather on the monastery church Saint Serge in Angers.
Two defiant square towers
The Notre Dame de Nice was designed by the brilliant architect Louis Lenormand, who was also responsible for the construction of the Monaco Cathedral. Two almost defiant square towers are the landmark of this church. They each reach a height of around thirty metres and are the external features of this important historical building in the metropolis in the south of France. With the Notre Dame in Paris, which fell victim to a conflagration in April 2019, the Basilica of Nice shares the Gothic style.
Guests in the cold season
The city's diocese, with its maritime character, had a problem in the second half of the 19th century: Nice was bursting at the seams as its population reached new dimensions due to the influx of large numbers of people from the north. It was the bishop Jean-Pierre Sola who pushed for the construction of another church in this city. And he had the idea to ask the wealthy immigrants, who settled in Nice especially in the cold season, to pay and therefore raised Father Alexandre Lavigne, who came from Paris, to the rank of Vicar General. He was to look after the "foreign colony" in particular.
Donations from all over France
From then on, there were numerous events in Nice with the sole purpose of raising money for the new church. And the rich families from abroad who year after year stayed in the beautiful city at the Mediterranean Sea during the winter months did not let themselves be asked for long at the charity bazaars. Monetary donations came from all over France, but also from England. The construction of the Basilica of Notre Dame began in 1864, after the necessary land was bought from the Work of Mercy and the Charity of Nice.
Dedicated to the Assumption of Mary
A neo-Gothic style church was built, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, to keep alive the memory of the cathedral that once stood on the castle hill of the city. Already in 1868, four years after the laying of the foundation stone, the mighty nave with the eight side chapels could be handed over to its first purpose. But the planners of the church got a bit carried away and left some debts that the city of Nice finally paid off. During this time, the basilica is a centre of the Catholic community. But it is also a popular place for concerts.
Elements of the Bible in coloured glass
Visitors particularly appreciate the extraordinary atmosphere inside the church and admire the impressive windows. They were designed by the best glaziers in France. The elements of the Bible are almost exclusively reflected in the coloured elements. The large round window above the entrance portal depicts the ascension of the Virgin Mary to heaven. Numerous paintings are dedicated to the veneration of the Mother of Jesus.
