Reformed Church of Notre-Dame, Orbe

Orbe Temple, also known as the Reformed Church of Notre-Dame (French: église réformée Notre-Dame) or the Great Church of Orbe (French: Grande Église d'Orbe), is a Protestant church in the municipality of Orbe, canton of Vaud, Switzerland. It is a parish church of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Vaud. It is listed as a heritage site of national significance.

Reformed Church of Notre-Dame, Orbe
Native name
Église réformée Notre-Dame d'Orbe (French)
The church and the surrounding buildings
TypeParish church of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Vaud
LocationOrbe, canton of Vaud, Switzerland
Coordinates46°43′29″N 06°31′58″E / 46.72472°N 6.53278°E / 46.72472; 6.53278
BuiltUntil 1525
Enlarged 1687
ArchitectBalthazar Huguenin and Balthazar Jeanneret
Antoine Lagniaz
Architectural style(s)Gothic
Official nameEglise réformée Notre-Dame
Reference no.6367
Reformed Church of Notre-Dame, Orbe is located in Switzerland
Reformed Church of Notre-Dame, Orbe
Location of Reformed Church of Notre-Dame, Orbe in Switzerland
Reformed Church of Notre-Dame, Orbe is located in Canton of Vaud
Reformed Church of Notre-Dame, Orbe
Reformed Church of Notre-Dame, Orbe (Canton of Vaud)

History

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The Great Church of Orbe was founded in the 12th century and destroyed for the first time in 1407 by a fire that devastated the whole building except the four walls and a few pillars.[1] The church was re-built beginning in 1408 and completed a century later by Balthazar Huguenin and Balthazar Jeanneret with the walls included in the city walls.[2] The works were ended by architect Antoine Lagniaz, who re-built the nave and the side aisles between 1521 and 1525. Moreover, three side chapels were enlarged in 1687.[3]

The Post-Gothic church has five naves and notably features statues on the keystone, as well as capitals that represent Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels.[4]

After the city was conquered by the canton of Bern in 1536 and after the introduction of the Reformation, the church became a temple and was shared by both faiths. The Protestant progressively made exclusive use of the building and installed a statue of reformer Pierre Viret (a native of Orbe) in the building in 1911.[5]

The temple was listed among the Swiss Cultural Property of National Significance.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Réforme". orbe.ch (in French). Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  2. ^ "Église d'Orbe". orbe-tourisme.ch (in French). Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  3. ^ "Orbe Église réformée". notrehistoire.ch (in French). Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  4. ^ "Orbe". orgues-et-vitraux.ch (in French). Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  5. ^ Reymond, Bernard (1997). Temples de Suisse romande: à la découverte d'un patrimoine. Sites et villages vaudois (in French). Éditions Cabédita. pp. 51–53. ISBN 9782882951915.
  6. ^ "Eglise réformée Notre-Dame". Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National Significance (in French). Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP). Retrieved November 11, 2019.

Bibliography

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  • Naef, Albert (1903). Orbe: le château et l'église : communication (in French). L. Vincent.
  • Gilliard, Frédéric (1934). L'église d'Orbe: étude historique et archéologique. Pro Urba / Association du vieil Orbe (in French). Vol. 5. Librairie Jaques.