| Church of Saint Joan of Arc | |
|---|---|
Sainte Jeanne d'Arc (French) | |
 Façade of the church | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Diocese | Diocese of Nice |
| Province | Archdiocese of Marseille |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Parish church |
| Leadership | P. Guy Largillière[1] |
| Location | |
| Location | Nice,France |
 | |
| Geographic coordinates | 43°42′48.28″N7°15′45.36″E / 43.7134111°N 7.2626000°E /43.7134111; 7.2626000 |
| Architecture | |
| Architects | Louis Castel,Jacques Droz |
| Type | Church |
| Style | Art deco |
| Groundbreaking | 1914 (1914) (crypt) |
| Completed | 1934[2] |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 59 m (194 ft)[2] |
| Width | 43 m (141 ft)[2] |
| Height (max) | Nave: 25 m (82 ft)[2] Steeple: 64 m (210 ft)[2] |
| Materials | Reinforced concrete |
| Official name: Église Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc | |
| Designated | 12 June 1992 |
| Reference no. | PA00080940[3] |
| Denomination | Église |
| Website | |
| nice | |
TheChurch of Saint Joan of Arc (French:Sainte Jeanne d'Arc) is aRoman Catholic parish church located inNice,France. Noticeable for its original architecture, the church is dedicated toJoan of Arc.
The style of this church is controversial among the inhabitants of Nice, judged ugly by some. The church is sometime nicknamed "theMeringue" for its white color.
In 1914, Father Quillery was appointed parish priest of the new parish of Saint Jérome. The first projects for a new church are proposed. French architect Louis Castel initiated in 1914 its construction and built a crypt. After World War I, another French architectJacques Droz constructed in 1924 a second crypt.[2] Both crypts are the support of the new building. In 1931 a concrete basement is laid over the two crypts.[2] Between 1932 and 1934, the church was built usingreinforced concrete. Droz employed the technique of thethin shell concrete for the domes that have a thickness of 45 centimetres (18 in) at the base but only 8 centimetres (3.1 in) at the top.[2]
The use ofreinforced concrete, a new material at that time, allowed an original construction in a style influenced byArt Deco. Eight ellipsoidal domes support three larger ovoid domes. In the interior, these three large domes are only supported by four pillars, which allows an astonishing interior volume with 25 metres (82 ft) high vaults.[2] The angular form of the 64 metres (210 ft)[2]steeple is in opposition with the strong curves of the domes.
The 95 m2 (1,020 sq ft) fresco paintings of thestations of the Cross were executed byEugène Klementieff in 1934.[2] The paintings are influenced by RussianCubism, ItalianQuattrocento and Byzantine Orthodox icons.[2]
Media related toÉglise Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc de Nice at Wikimedia Commons