Église abbatiale

The 18th-century abbey church is a precious testimony to the religious past of Baume-les-Dames: the building was constructed by Nicolas Nicole and bears witness to both the acknowledged talent of the architect and the refined taste of the nuns for noble materials. The abbey church and its sumptuous interior were characterised by a profusion of riches and precious materials. Giving its name to the town, this abbey also brought it a certain renown, as it welcomed nuns from the most illustrious families.

The abbey continued to grow, welcoming women from the most illustrious families, including the Montfaucons, the Neufchâtels and the House of Burgundy. To enter the monastery and become one of the nuns, you had to have 16 quarters of nobility.
In the 18th century, Madame d'Amas decided to rebuild the current building, which is one of the jewels of Baumois architecture.

The building was the brainchild of the Doubs architect Nicolas Nicole, known for his work on the Madeleine church in Besançon, who drew up some magnificent plans for the monastery.

Profusion of wealth was the name of the game for this abbey church, which featured a dome, columns, altars of great splendour and a lectern. Noble materials were used with great finesse, particularly marble, pink on the one hand, white on the other, Arguel black stone and gold, giving the whole an exemplary polychromy.

However, the wealth of the building tended to rhyme with the exhaustion of its financial resources. Nicolas Nicole's plans were called into question and the building, which was supposed to be 44 m long, was flanked by a wall marking the end of the work begun in 1750.

In 1811, the abbey church was acquired by the town of Baume-les-Dames and used as a warehouse, grain market and cinema. After the church's luxurious interior, its age and dilapidation led the town of Baume-les-Dames to undertake interior and exterior renovation work to give this building the cultural cachet it deserves as a tribute to the prestigious times that the Abbey of Baume-les-Dames has known.

The abbey church underwent extensive renovation work from the 1980s onwards. Today, the building is a cultural venue that hosts exhibitions and shows. This is an opportunity to discover the building, which remains closed outside these events.

To find out more about the history of this abbey, take part in a guided tour of the historic centre during the summer months. Guided tours on request all year round for groups.

Every summer, there is an exhibition in the abbey church (free admission).