Church Notre-Dame des Neiges

L'église

The church Notre-Dame des Neiges, built in the end of the 60s (in the process of being registered in the supplementary inventory of ancient memorials), is famous for its : original architecture in the form of tent, a monumental organ in the form of an open hand and its 13 stained glass windows (illustrating scenes from the Gospel according to Saint Mark) painted by the artist Arcabas.

The beginning of the project...

On the occasion of the Olympic Games of 1968, the idea had raisen to replace the small wooden chapel of  Alpe d’Huez by a bigger church, from where one could see la  Meije. At instigation of the Dutch father Jaap Reuten, who was a priest there from 1964 till 1992, the church Notre-Dame des Neiges was finished in 1970, financed by the donations of parishioners and many benefactors. The church is built with simple materials (concrete for the circular skeleton, copper for the roof, wood for the skeleton, translucent glass for the dome).

During the War, Jean Le Boucher, while fighting for the Alpette on August 14th 1944, had made the wish to build a church in honour of Saint Maria. With his help, symbols are put in evidence in the architecture of this modern building realized by the architect Jean Marol.

From the source to the construction

As a first symbol, God set up his tent in Alpe d'Huez, like Abraham did in the desert; the roof will thus adopt the flexible and round shape of this vast shelter. It’s entrance is situated in the choir, or heart of the building: having crossed the twilight, through a long entry (narthex ) which allows to get used to the darkness and to prepare for meditation, one reaches a well of light in the very centre. This well also represents the mast which supports the tent, the spine of the building. The assembly sits round the well of light in a circle, as round a campfire.

The organ of Jean Guillou

The church has a unique organ, the only one of its kind in the World, baptized Christophe-Raphaël, of exceptional quality and richness. It was built in 1978 by organ builder Detlef Kleuker, according to the plans drawn by Jean Guillou, composer and holder of Saint Eustache's organ in Paris.
Situated in the center of the well of light which forms the spine of the building, the organ represents a hand raised up to the sky, drawn by Jean Marol. The pipes of the organ are situated in the fingers of this hand.
Its shape is original, because instead of presenting a geometrical and symmetric adaptation of pipes in a decorated case, sculpted or not, as almost all the cases made until now, it represents a hand raised up to the sky, with the pipes of some basic notes grouped in the fingers. Furthermore, now the altar was put on the side of the choir, its place in the church allows the public to see the interpreter as on a stage, allowing easy contact, which is extremely rare in organ concerts, as the musician is usually hidden by the mystery of a stand.
Source: Notre-Dame des Neiges Association

Concerts of the church Notre-Dame des Neiges: Dates and information

Official website "Orgues et Montagnes" in Alpe d'Huez: Consult the website
More information on: the church
More information on: Arcabas

Prices and Opening hours

• Free access.
• Opened every day from 8:30 am till 7 pm

Contact us

Association Notre-Dame-des-Neiges
Chemin de la Chapelle
38750 Alpe d'Huez
Tel: +33 (0)4 76 80 33 30

Contact us by email
Visit our website

 
 

Guided tours

• guided tours are organized by the museum (on request for groups), on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm (in winter) and at 6:00 pm (in summer).

• Historical reminder, architectural creations (Jean Marol - Architect, Charles Verguet - Carpenter-Coordinator of the works), artistic creations (Arcabas - Stained glasses), creation of the organ (Detlef Kleuker – organ builder, Jean Guillou - organist composer)

Contact us

Huez and Oisans Museum
Route de la Poste
38750 Alpe d'Huez
Tel: +33 (0)4 76 11 21 74
Fax: +33 (0)4 76 11 34 25

Contact us by email
Visit our website

 
 

Classical Music Concerts: "Thursday Concerts"

Every Thursday, a concert of classical music (from 12/7 to 16/8) is organised by the association Organs and Mountains in the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Centre.
Artistic director: Jean-Paul Imbert, world-famous organist. Organ, violin, trumpet, singing: a beautiful musical season to come!

Concerts of the church Notre-Dame des Neiges : Dates and information

 
 

Music Lessons (only during the summer holidays)

Music is a passion for you and you would like spend a few hours practising and improving your musical skills during your summer holidays, without any kind of competition.

The association Notre-Dame des Neiges, Organ and Mountain, offers each for this summer 3 work-shops: Organ, Panpipes and Choral

Music lessons: Dates and information