Church of Our Lady of the Waters

Welcome to Notre-Dame-des-Eaux Church in Aix-les-Bains, a stunning Romanesque-Byzantine jewel right in the heart of this spa town! Its striking green steeple, colored by the natural patina of oxidized metal, has been a landmark here for over a century. Built between 1890 and 1899 by architect Arthur Bertin, it replaced the old church, which had become too small for the growing number of worshippers and spa visitors. This church holds a special devotion: Our Lady of the Waters.

Since 1856, a Catholic brotherhood supported those coming to take the healing waters, perfectly reflecting a town whose prosperity rests on its thermal springs. Take in the Romanesque-Byzantine architecture, quite original for its time in the Savoie region. Entirely constructed from local limestone, its subtle hues add to the building’s charm. A surprising detail: the church faces north, an unusual orientation caused by urban constraints.

Step inside to discover a narthex, a majestic nave with five bays flanked by side aisles, followed by a transept and a chancel with an apse. Look up to admire the beautiful rounded barrel vaults overhead. The church’s true treasure is its dazzling stained glass windows, crafted by the master glassmaker Lucien Bégule from Lyon, some based on designs by Eugène Grasset, a leading figure of Art Nouveau. At the back, marvel at the grand gallery organ, restored in 2020–2021, whose concerts reveal its exceptional sound quality.

Don’t miss the Oratory of Our Lady of the Waters, built in 1867, a circular structure symbolizing the connection between Christian spirituality and the spa tradition. This church embodies the history of Aix-les-Bains, its faith, and the generosity of its people.

For more than 120 years, it has carried forward its dual spiritual and cultural mission at the heart of this thermal town.