Église Saint-Jacques

Built between 1730 and 1747, during the reigns of François III and Stanislas, this church has been listed as a Monument Historique since 1926. It replaces both the old church of the Chanoines réguliers de l'Abbaye Saint-Rémy, founded in 999, and the 14th-century parish church of Saint Jacques, which was located 200 meters away in Place Saint Jacques, where a fine statue of the pilgrim saint can still be seen on the corner of a house. The organ at Saint-Jacques, listed as a Monument Historique in 1986, is unique in that it is entirely hidden by a magnificent décor designed by architect Emmanuel Héré.
Free guided tours Saturdays and Sundays until September 21, from 2pm to 5pm. Church closed in low season.

Eighteenth-century churches are more palaces than places of intimate prayer. In the sumptuous days of the royal courts, it was fitting that God, master of all kings, should be honored with magnificence. Everything is centered around the tabernacle, placed on the high altar in the middle of the choir. Here dwells Christ, present in the Eucharist. Here, he receives the homage of the faithful. Everything contributes to the solemnity of the liturgy: elaborate choir stalls, wrought-iron railings, goldsmiths' wares. Music played an important role in Lunéville, as it was also part of divine worship. Admire the organ case with its musician angels. Look at the woodwork on the entrance door or in the choir: everywhere, notated notebooks and string, wind and percussion instruments. This grandstand, Héré's masterpiece, is striking in its originality and magnificence, combining rich decoration and perspective effects. But all this majesty was not for the glory of God alone. The 18th century was also a time of "appearances", and in this church, much was done to honor Stanislaus, his family and his native Poland: frescoes of St Stanislaus, bishop of Krakow and patron saint of the king, and of Catherine of Alexandria, patron saint of Queen Catherine Opalinska, at the top of the small aisles. Evocation of the saints venerated in Poland: statue of St. Michael and St. John Nepomuk at the top of the towers; behind the pulpit, painting of St. Hyacinth, apostle of Poland; inscriptions on the dome and funerary monument to Stanislaus.

The Canons Regular of Saint-Rémy Abbey also left their mark. Their distant founder, Saint Augustin, and their reformer, Saint Pierre Fourrier, parish priest of Mattaincourt in Lorraine in the 17th century, are depicted on medallions in the choir woodwork and on paintings on the first pillars of the side aisles. The incumbent of their church, Saint Rémy, is entitled to the fresco in the center of the apse, painted by Girardet and depicting the baptism of Clovis. The high altar and the two large paintings in the entrance to the choir, depicting Saint Joseph and the Holy Family, come from the former Saint Jacques church, demolished in 1745. Only the two stained-glass windows in the apse, depicting the vocation and condemnation of Saint James the Greater, apostle and martyr, date from the 19th century, as do the altar of Saint Joseph and the confessionals, replacing the magnificently sculpted ones destroyed during the Revolution in 1793.
The church is open from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. and from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in summer (May to September) and until 4:00 p.m. the rest of the year. The church is not open during religious services. From July 1 to the European Heritage Days (in September), a reception area is open in the church (documentation, free guided tours).
Concerts organized as part of the Route des Orgues program.

Inside the church, the Tour de la Cloche museum features a permanent exhibition on sacred art, covering artistic productions and practices that express the sacred. You'll be able to admire objects such as altar crosses, canvases, candlesticks and reliquaries. The collection is made up of the ancient art objects of the Saint Jacques church, and numerous loans from private collectors.

DATAtourisme France