Notre-Dame des Neiges, L'Alpe d'Huez
Notre-Dame des Neiges (French for "Our Lady of the Snows") is a church in the municipality of Alpe d'Huez, built in the twentieth century and dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
| Church of Notre-Dame des Neiges | |
|---|---|
 Exterior of the church | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Archdiocese of Lyon |
| Region | Rhône-Alpes |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| State | France |
  Shown within France | |
| Geographic coordinates | 45.089941°N 6.069501°E |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Jean Marol |
| Style | Modern |
| Groundbreaking | 1968 |
| Completed | 1970 |
| Website | |
| Association website | |
History
A small chapel, built in 1940, situated in the center of the Alpe d'Huez, was initially dedicated to the Marian cult. In 1960, the priest, Jaap Reuten, asked Jean Le Boucher and architect Jean Marol to build a church-shaped tent, representing Abraham, the first Biblical patriarch, to replace the chapel with a structure visible from the Meije, in preparation for the Olympic Games of 1968.[1]
Stained glass windows surround the nave, oval, representing the life of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of Mark, made by the artist Arcabas. The church holds a crypt dedicated to St Nicolas and in the choir, there is a pipe organ, whose organ case is in the shape of hand. The instrument was designed by the composer Jean Guillou, and built by the German organ builder Detlef Kleuker.[2]
The church depends on the parish of St. Bernard en Oisans and the Diocese of Grenoble-Vienne. It is managed administratively and culturally by the Association of Our Lady of the Snows.
References
- "Sites culturels - Eglise Notre-Dame des Neiges". Alpe Huez website. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
- Simon Foucher (27 October 2012). "Portfolio: Notre-Dame des Neiges at L'Alpe d'Huez". Simon Foucher website. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
Further reading
- Freysselinard, Bénédicte. Alpe d'Huez - Notre-Dame des Neiges (2009), 8th edition. Preface by Guy de Kerimel, Bishop of Grenoble-Vienne.
External links
- (in French) Association of Our Lady of the Snows