The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice (French: Basilique Notre-Dame de Nice) is a Roman Catholic basilica situated on the Avenue Jean Médecin in the centre of Nice, in France. It is built in the Neo-Gothic architectural tradition.

Notre-Dame de Nice
Map
43°42′11.92″N 7°15′57.82″E / 43.7033111°N 7.2660611°E / 43.7033111; 7.2660611
LocationNice, Alpes-Maritimes
CountryFrance
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitenotredame-nice.com
Architecture
Architect(s)Charles Lenormand
StyleNeo Gothic
Groundbreaking1864
Completed1879[1]
Administration
DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Nice
The towers of the basilica
Notre Dame de Nice by night

The basilica, built between 1864 and 1868, was designed by Louis Lenormand and is the largest church in Nice,[2] but is not the cathedral of the city.

Inspired by Angers Cathedral, it is built in the Gothic style. Its construction was motivated by a desire to add French architecture to the city following the acquisition of the County of Nice by France from the Kingdom of Sardinia; at the time Gothic buildings were considered to be characteristically French. Its most prominent features are two square towers 65 m high, which dominate the east front together with a large rose window featuring scenes of the Assumption of Mary.

On 29 October 2020, three people were killed at the church in an act of Islamic terrorism.[3] The suspect was identified as a 21 year old Tunisian illegal immigrant,[4][5] who had reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" while holding a Quran.[6]

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References

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  1. ^ "Histoire de Notre-Dame | Basilique Notre-Dame de l'Assomption". notredame-nice.com (in French). 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  2. ^ "website of the Mairie de Nice". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
  3. ^ "France attack: Deadly stabbing in Nice 'is terrorism', says mayor". BBC News. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. ^ Paris, Charles Bremner. "Nice terror attack: migrant tried to behead victims". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  5. ^ "European Union urges quick WHO reform, asks for more transparency in pandemics". Hindustan Times. 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  6. ^ "France on alert amid mass protests". Hindustan Times. 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
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