In France, the ancient church of St. Nikes will be turned into a brewery and restaurant

The authorities of the French city of Rouen have approved a project for a large-scale transformation of the historic church of St. Nikes, which is planned to be converted into a commercial complex, including a brewery, restaurant and museum. According to the publication “Blagovest-info”, the decision to change the purpose of the building is caused by the extremely high cost of its maintenance and the need for expensive restoration.

The history of this holy place dates back to the VII century, when St. Uen, Archbishop of Rouen, founded here the first chapel for the storage of the relics of the martyr Nikesia. The modern building, an example of reinforced concrete architecture, was erected in the 1930s by architects Pierre Chrolle and Emile Gaillard after a devastating fire. Despite its architectural significance, the temple was closed in 2006 due to structural dilapidation, and in 2017 it was officially stripped of its status as a religious building.

In preparation for repurposing, work has begun on dismantling the large organ in the building. The instrument will be transported to the Church of the Holy Spirit in Paris, where it will be restored and reinstalled. The project has caused mixed reactions in society: critics point out that it is unacceptable to turn an object with a centuries-old religious history into a drinking establishment, while supporters see it as the only way to save the building from final destruction.