Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes,

Romans-sur-Isere

As early as 1931, Dom Bellot made designs for a church in Romans-sur-Isere. During that period, François Bérenger is active in the studio in Wisques.

Ultimately, a church was built in his own name in 1937, in Bellot's formal language.

It is not yet clear why he is taking over the assignment from Bellot.

The church dominates the central square.

It appears that the entrance and tower were added a few years later. Old photos show that the church was first built without a tower. The color and shape of the facade therefore differ from the rest of the building. There is a statue of Mary on the tower.

The church is made of concrete and has the plan of a cruciform church. The walls, however, form a scalene octagon, with a central domed vault. The choir and the two transepts lean against this central part. The bays and window shapes used are typical of the Bellot style.

Photo’s: a.w.a. lukassen and a.a. lukassen, summer 2023