Église Saint-Julien de Caen, Modernist church in Caen, France
Église Saint-Julien de Caen is a modern church building with an elliptical floor plan that stands apart from traditional church architecture. Colored glass tiles cover large sections of the side walls and create shifting light patterns that change throughout the day inside the building.
The building was constructed between 1954 and 1959 and replaced an older religious structure from the 7th century. That original building was destroyed in 1944 during bombardments that heavily damaged the city.
The church is named after Saint Julian and was designed as a gathering place where worshippers sit closer together. This layout allows visitors to experience services from different vantage points without feeling distant from the altar.
The church is located on Rue Malfilâtre and is accessible to visitors during opening hours. It is advisable to check ahead whether religious services are scheduled, as this may affect visiting opportunities.
Architect Henry Bernard designed this building while held as a prisoner in Germany and incorporated his experiences into the design. The innovative concept grew from new ideas about church spaces he developed during that period of captivity.
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