Saint-Jude Church

Here, at the foot of the cathedral hill, stands the Church of Saint Jude, a church unlike any other: it was built in the nineteenth century by the inhabitants of the Faubourg themselves. At the time, this was only an old coaching inn where carriages stopped after crossing the Pont Vieux. Pope Pius VII even stopped there in 1814. In 1865, the residents decided they wanted their own church without waiting for any official project. They bought the building, raised the roof, built the bell tower and financed everything together: neighbourhood families, tanners, craftsmen, owners of the nearby estates… everyone contributed. The church is Neo-Romanesque, simple and welcoming, with a single nave, a rounded chancel and ten chapels decorated by local artists such as Magrou and Malacan. Inside, you will also find beautiful nineteenth-century stained glass, a white marble altar and a Pietà inspired by Michelangelo. After being closed for several years, the church was unfortunately vandalised. But since 2013, local volunteers have been patiently restoring it: chapels, frescoes, altar… everything is gradually coming back to life. Today, Saint Jude once again welcomes visitors and services. If you wish, push the door open: you will step into a modest church, but one that is deeply loved by the people who live here.