Carré Sainte-Anne

When we arrive at this square, our eyes are drawn only to the bell tower of the former Sainte-Anne church, visible throughout Montpellier. And by former, we don’t mean to indicate the presence of another more recent place of worship with the same name. No, it’s more subtle than that! The construction of Sainte-Anne church dates back to the 13th century, when Montpellier experienced significant population growth linked to the boom in its wine trade. A rather healthy and flourishing context, especially when we learn that a century later, the Wars of Religion ravaged France. Religious buildings, the primary targets of attacks, were damaged or even partially demolished. Such was the case of our Sainte-Anne church, which from 1655 was rebuilt and later expanded. But in 1845, the damning report of an architect, who deemed it at risk, pushed the city to demolish it in order to create another more solid one in neo-Gothic style, topped with a bell tower reaching 70 meters high, in 1889. This new version is the one you can still appreciate today. With all these multiple upheavals, the Sainte-Anne church has struggled to fulfill its primary function. Subsequently, the chances of being able to do so have not increased. It’s as if fate always had something better in store for it. During a ceremony in 1986, the Sainte-Anne church was deconsecrated to become, five years later, a venue for exhibitions and events, mainly focused on contemporary art. Due to too high risks of collapse and the worrying subsidence of its bell tower, the cultural address is currently closed for major renovation work. Its reopening is hoped for by early 2025 at the latest. So while waiting for this great moment, let’s content ourselves with appreciating from all angles what is nicknamed “the egret” of Montpellier, for its considerable height.