Ste-Bernadette church, Modern church in Grésilles district, Dijon, France.
Sainte-Bernadette Church is a 1960s building in the Grésilles district with modern design featuring two distinct levels. The upper nave has a rectangular shape, while below sits a chapel, with the entire structure supported by thin columns and covered by concrete shell forms.
Architect Joseph Belmont won a design competition in 1960 and completed the building between 1962 and 1964. It was part of a new neighborhood development that brought modern architecture to this growing area of Dijon.
The church is named after Saint Bernadette and was designed as the spiritual center of the developing neighborhood. Visitors can see it as a symbol of community unity, built by residents working together toward a shared goal.
The church is located on Avenue des Grésilles in the Grésilles neighborhood and is easy to find by its distinctive modern appearance. Access and visiting conditions depend on local parish schedules, so it is helpful to check ahead before going.
The local residents of the new neighborhood funded the entire construction themselves under Canon Paul Vinceneux's guidance. This collaborative effort resulted in the formation of the Brotherhood of Building Companions, showing how a community organized its own resources for a shared project.
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