Sainte Jeanne d'Arc Church, Art Deco Catholic church in Nice, France
Sainte Jeanne d'Arc is a Catholic church in Art Deco style, featuring a white steeple that reaches 64 meters and sits above three large oval domes. The interior structure consists of eight ellipsoidal cupolas in reinforced concrete, creating an open and light-filled space throughout.
Construction began in 1914 under architect Louis Castel but paused during World War I, resuming in 1926 under architect Jacques Droz. The building was finally completed in 1934, marking the end of a lengthy construction period.
The church is dedicated to France's patron saint and her name connects the building to national identity. People gather here for worship and quiet moments of reflection in its serene interior spaces.
The building is open to visitors on weekday mornings and weekend mornings, with additional afternoon access on certain weekdays. Plan your visit during these hours to fully explore the interior and architectural details at a comfortable pace.
Local residents affectionately call the building 'the Meringue' because of its white exterior and rounded shapes. The nickname humorously references the visual resemblance to the well-known French dessert.
Location: Nice
Inception: 1934
Architects: Jacques Droz
Architectural style: Art Deco, Art Nouveau architecture
Made from material: reinforced concrete
Address: avenue Saint-Lambert
Website: http://nice.cef.fr
GPS coordinates: 43.71341,7.26260
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:42
Nice combines museums, parks and coastal areas in a city between hills and the Mediterranean. The Marc Chagall Museum holds the largest public collection of his works, while the Matisse Museum is devoted to the paintings and sculptures of an artist who spent many years here. Castle Hill offers views over the rooftops and the water, and the Promenade des Anglais follows the shoreline. The Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral is the largest of its kind in Western Europe and stands in a quiet neighborhood north of the center. Parc du Mont Boron spreads across wooded slopes with trails for walking. Place Masséna marks the heart of the city with red facades and open squares. Port Lympia lies east of the old town and keeps the feel of a working harbor. These places show different sides of Nice, from art to nature to everyday life by the sea.
Nice naturally lends itself to photography. The Mediterranean light shapes the city from morning to evening, revealing in turn the ochre facades of Old Nice, the palms lining the Promenade des Anglais, or the blue domes of Saint-Nicolas Orthodox Cathedral. From the Château hilltop, at 92 meters high, the view encompasses the entire bay, while below, Place Masséna displays its geometric paving stones and red facades. The flower market at Cours Saleya, established since the 17th century, extends to Lympia Port where yellow facades reflect in the water, each neighborhood forming a different scene. The Negresco Hotel with its pink dome marks the coastline, and the Matisse Museum shares the painter's love for the light of the South. Nice offers a variety of viewpoints, making it a preferred destination for those interested in capturing the architecture, colors, and vitality of a city oriented toward the Mediterranean.
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