Ever noticed how this church seems a bit stout? The locals affectionately call the \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine “La Grosse Madeleine”. This translates to “The Fat Madeleine” because of its unique shape and dome.
\u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine stands on Rue du Pont Neuf in Vieux-Lille. It is not just any church. Its architecture is a mix of different styles. You can spot Flemish Renaissance, ancient Greek, and Baroque elements.
Construction first began way back in 1233. However the church you see today is not from the 13th century. The original \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine was demolished. This happened between 1667 and 1670. Vauban ordered the demolition during city fortification work.
In 1675, a decision was made to rebuild the church. It was dedicated to Sainte Marie-Madeleine. Consecration occurred in 1707. Sadly, disaster struck again just a year later. Austrian forces laid siege in 1708. This heavily damaged the church. Restoration took place and it reopened in 1713. But it only remained open until 1969. Safety concerns forced its closure.
Then in 1989, \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine was deconsecrated. It no longer served as a religious space. Finally in 2004, things changed again. Lille became the European Capital of Culture. This prompted restoration. The church reopened to the public. Now it hosts temporary exhibitions.
Step inside \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. You might see the famous painting “The Resurrection of Lazarus”. Jacob van Oost the Younger created this masterpiece. Arnould de Vuez also contributed two paintings. They once decorated the church’s choir. Now they reside in the Hospice Comtesse museum’s reserves.
The \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine has a centralized plan. This means it is based around the circle of its rotunda. A striking dome tops the structure reaching 55 meters high. This is quite rare in this region. Typically churches have a Latin cross plan.
The choir’s original decoration remains intact. It provides a contrast to the rest of the building. The rest of the edifice has a more sober style. The high altar features Jacob Van Oost’s “Resurrection of Lazarus”. Four large paintings dated 1777 depict scenes from Marie-Madeleine’s life.
The building’s history includes a turbulent inventory. This happened on February 12, 1906. It was part of the 1905 law separating churches and the state. Strong opposition met the controllers during this inventory.
Keep an eye out for “God Hungry”. Subodh Gupta created this monumental artwork. It commemorates the devastating 2004 tsunami. The piece uses a striking collection of kitchen utensils.
Note the tombstones in the chapels. Parishioners once funded much of \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. They secured burial plots inside the church in return for their donations. The closer to the choir, the higher the price.
Today, the \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine stands as a testament to resilience. It has survived demolitions sieges and changing times. It is now a unique space. It welcomes art and culture enthusiasts.