Collegiate church of Notre-Dame

Dominating the city skyline at 73 meters, the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame is the most impressive building in the former capital of the Jura region. Built in the 16th century, it sports two different architectural styles: Gothic and Renaissance. It’s known as a collegiate church, but it actually became a basilica in 1951. It’s an important landmark for both the city and region, having been constructed following a difficult period for Dole. There had been another collegiate church since the 13th century, but it was destroyed, along with the entire city, by the royal army in 1479, as it attempted to conquer Burgundy. At the time, Dole was the capital of the county of Burgundy. The church was rebuilt first in the flamboyant Gothic style, then in the Renaissance style as the years went by. The interior is rather plain, yet decorated with furnishings and decorations that hark back to the early Renaissance era in Dole. Its 3500-pipe organ is a stunning example of 18th-century craftsmanship. Feel free to enter the church to get a sense of its grandeur and importance in Dole!