Here is our selection of gems to discover: the Art Deco Palace of Saint-Quentin, the city council hall, the Buffet de la gare or even the Notre-Dame Church or the Saint-Martin de Chauny Church, in Aisne (02).
” READ ALSO – This superb Art Nouveau mansion awaits its new tenant
Chauny was 90% destroyed in February 1917.”The city suffered a systematic blasting of all houses and religious buildings. The latter constituted a point of observation from their bell towers and were therefore destroyed“, recounts Gaëtane Fondement, president of the Art Deco association and Compagnie de Chauny. After the First World War, Chauny was the first city in France to adopt a development plan aimed at rebuilding the city. It is therefore up to the municipality to surround itself with artists and architects who will bring the city back to life.
Church of Saint-Martin de Chauny
«Keeping track of the past and looking to the futurewas the town hall’s credo. The Church of Saint-Martin, which was destroyed in 1917, was therefore symbolically rebuilt in the same location, by the architect Regis Jardel. “The exterior of the church is not Art Deco at all. The building has kept the same style as the previous church with its friezes of vines and sheaves of wheat“, explains Gaëtane Fondement. As for the interior, it includes Art Deco stained glass windows designed by master glassmaker Louis Barillet, who also designed the stained glass windows for the Molitor swimming pool in Paris.
Church of Our Lady of Chauny
This church, also destroyed during the First World War, is very rich in geometric friezes. The architect Charles Luciani used highly decorative elements and the designs for the rich stained glass windows and frescoes were made by Louis Mazetier who studied at the Beaux-Arts in Paris. He decorated fifty churches in France and a dozen in the Aisne. “The angels on the fresco are remarkably modern for the time. We must remember the context: the church was rebuilt in 1930 and these angels have straight, geometric dresses and short hairstyles», Analysis Gaëtane Fondement.
The Art Deco Palace of Saint-Quentin
This monumental building with half-moon patterns and painted stucco decorations has an impressive ceiling height. It was rebuilt in the Art Deco style by the Parisian architect Sylvère Laville, after the war, and seems to lengthen indefinitely with its vertical pillars ending in palmettes. Its wrought iron railings and banisters are typical of Art Deco. “It was originally a Galeries Lafayette type department store. After its destruction during the First World War, its owner intends to rebuild the building in an art deco style with references to Egypt and an oriental aspect“, explains Anne Sophie Brunet, in charge of promoting the heritage and crafts of the city of Saint-Quentin. But, victim of the crisis and competition, it closes its doors. The ground floor is given over to the Monoprix brand and the rest of the building closes but is used as a dance hall at times and has even hosted wrestling matches. Jean-Paul Belmondo also attended one of these boxing matches.
Hall of the Municipal Council of Saint-Quentin
The wrought iron railing of the former press gallery, with its extremely geometric spirals, an Art Deco motif par excellence, is a must-have in the municipal council chamber of the Hôtel de Ville de Saint – Quentin. This very refined decor is the work of municipal architect Louis Guindez. “The wrought iron comes from a Saint-Quentinoise company. These local materials, at a lower cost, allowed rapid reconstruction“says Anne Sophie Brunet. It is the material that serves as the decor here.
The Buffet at Saint-Quentin station
The Buffet de la gare is listed as a Historic Monument and is a preserved gem since its closure in 1990. The station was completely rebuilt after the war but fell victim to a devastating fire and had to be restored in June 2017 The amount allocated for its restoration is approximately €500,000. The Venetian enamels in stylized blue-grey tones as well as the glass paste mosaics have been preserved. The master glassmaker Auguste Labouret is at the origin of these large windows with geometric flowers in circular shapes that change according to the light and the ground recalls the patterns of the stained glass windows. Today, the Station Buffet hosts gourmet visits such as tastings, breakfasts or afternoon teas, brunches or bookshops.