Notre-Dame du Valentin in Lausanne was the first catholic church to be built in Lausanne since the reformation in 1536. Indeed, until 1810, a cantonal law prevented the construction of catholic churches. Notre-Dame du Valentin was designed in a neo-classical style by Henri Perregaux and built between 1832 and 1835. It initially didn't have a bell tower, which was forbidden by law until 1878.
The 38-meter high bell tower and the stairs leading to Place de la Riponne were added in 1932 - 1933 to plans by Swiss architect Fernand Dumas.
![Basilique Notre-Dame du Valentin - facade](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/50a23109-7392-4d0a-9ed9-55f6267a05aa_rw_1920.jpg?h=4804a26b738bbb122c550bdaa3906b2a)
Basilique Notre-Dame du Valentin - facade
![Basilique Notre-Dame du Valentin - facade](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/2a858b29-89ae-42c3-b601-eb3b956db794_rw_1920.jpg?h=7760fa3c3de4f1a1b8b690e0e027affd)
Basilique Notre-Dame du Valentin - facade
The choir was decorated in 1934 by Italian painter Gino Severini, a leading member of the Futurist movement. The fresco, executed in a Byzantine style, depicts scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.
![fresco by Italian painter Gino Severini](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/5d225a31-9332-4554-92b6-1ae42138e5f0_rw_1920.jpg?h=489db46218440fdb3ace434c4203c7bd)
fresco by Italian painter Gino Severini
Twelve multi-coloured windows were added in 1977 by Pierre Estoppey.
![Basilique Notre-Dame du Valentin - entrance door](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/af27b928-c77f-4ea3-bfe3-9dbdda8d038a_rw_1920.jpg?h=ce3ec3d579dc8a032072616daa15b6a3)
Basilique Notre-Dame du Valentin - entrance door
![Basilique Notre-Dame du Valentin - colourful windows by Pierre Estoppey](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/8d832aec-e105-4564-8791-005b144bc38d_rw_1920.jpg?h=5319044fcbca78cf6ef9614d09d3f9a1)
Basilique Notre-Dame du Valentin - colourful windows by Pierre Estoppey
Notre-Dame du Valentin is undergoing renovations in 2023 and 2024.
![Notre-Dame du Valentin - renovations](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/70ab0280-5e35-4507-97da-4ebe90593152_rw_1920.jpg?h=31fe08fb6b8635986f33579ee87866db)
Notre-Dame du Valentin - renovations
![Notre-Dame du Valentin - renovations](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/6c025717-371e-4c78-b784-d9078e16f18f_rw_1920.jpg?h=bc6ad6ce863c6491d54c878b41d67925)