Audincourt: Church Art, Collections and Culture

Audincourt brings together several distinct cultural themes: sacred architecture, art collections, events and theatre practice. If you’re looking for a hotel in Audincourt, these highlights can help you plan your stay around your interests. Church art can be viewed in two different sacred buildings, while the Maison du Patrimoine and the Centre d’Art – Donation Patt offer other perspectives. Festivals and exhibitions also feature, and their dates are worth considering when planning your trip.

Church architecture and art in the buildings

The Église du Sacré-Cœur dates from 1950. Architect Maurice Novarina designed this unadorned sacred building on a basilica-shaped floor plan. Above the entrance is a colourful mosaic by Jean Bazaine; Fernand Léger created seventeen multicoloured stained-glass windows for the church. The floor plan and artworks provide different points of reference for viewing the architecture.

By comparison, the Église de l’Immaculée Conception dates from 1930. The monk-architect Dom Bellot designed it in the shape of a Latin cross. Inside, visible parabolic structures divide the nave and distribute the light. Bright stained-glass windows by Valentine Reyre are located near the claustras. So the comparison between the churches extends beyond their construction dates: the basilica-shaped floor plan, mosaic and Léger’s windows feature in one, while the cross shape, interior structures, use of light and Reyre’s windows define the architectural impression in the other.

Collections, local history and theatre

The Maison du Patrimoine displays models of the Patouillet district, a martinet, two communal cooking cauldrons, various tools and blacksmiths’ aprons. Cast-iron bricks, charcoal and iron ore round out the selection. Historic office items, such as calculating and typewriting machines and payroll registers, are also on display. The collection ranges from materials and crafts to office work. Visitors interested in exploring different aspects of the town’s history will find both objects from the world of work and records of everyday administration here.

The Centre d’Art – Donation Patt displays more than 150 paintings and sculptures. The Office de Tourisme du Pays de Montbéliard organises guided tours of the centre; availability may vary. If you’d like to plan a guided tour, check in advance whether one is offered during your visit. This makes it easy to distinguish the centre’s focus from the wide range of historical objects at the Maison du Patrimoine: painting and sculpture take centre stage at the Centre d’Art.

Theatre practice is another facet of local culture. Maison Unité offers training in theatre practice and welcomes theatre companies from all over France so that they can work on their productions. This training and production work adds another dimension to Audincourt’s cultural life, alongside its collections and exhibitions.

Festivals and exhibitions

Rencontres & Racines takes place in Parc Japy in the centre of Audincourt and has been running for more than thirty years. The festival encourages visitors to discover different cultures through associations and a varied programme. If you’d like to plan your stay around Rencontres & Racines, check the date of the event for the relevant year.

At the Salon des Vins et du Goût, wine tastings are led by winemakers from different regions. Food stalls featuring local specialities and regional products are also part of the event. The participating winemakers and stalls may vary from one edition to another. Checking the programme for the relevant edition will help you get an idea of what to expect.

The Fête de la BD includes exhibitions and events and offers opportunities to meet authors. The detailed programme changes with each edition; check the latest dates and events before making plans. This lets you treat the Fête de la BD as a distinct event, rather than as an ongoing exhibition programme.

At the Maison de la Photographie, the Mode Ouverture association invites a French or international artist each month to exhibit their work. Exhibition schedules may change. If you’d like to include this in your travel plans, check the current exhibition calendar.

Discover more destinations: Amancey, Métabief, Dommartin, Flagey, Corcelle-Mieslot, Fleurey, Montbenoît, Brey-Et-Maison-Du-Bois

For the broader travel overview: Doubs.