The Basilica of Notre-Dame du Valentin is a Catholic Marian shrine in Lausanne’s Valentin district, built between 1832 and 1835. Here you will find a neo-Gothic church, a Black Madonna venerated since the 17th century and an organ dating from 1878.
Religious buildings
Main highlights
- Black Madonna of Valentin, a venerated statue and pilgrimage destination since the 17th century
- Neo-Gothic church built between 1832 and 1835, the only minor basilica in the canton of Vaud
- 1878 Kuhn organ, played at Sunday services and for concerts
Overview
The shrine’s origins date back to the 17th century, when a small statue of the Virgin was placed in a modest oratory at a spot called Valentin, outside the city walls. After the Reformation, which had abolished Catholic worship in Lausanne, this humble shrine became a place of pilgrimage for Catholics from across the region.
Once religious freedom was recognised, the Catholic community built the current church between 1832 and 1835, to designs by the architect Henri Perregaux. In 1954, Pope Pius XII raised it to the rank of minor basilica. It is the only basilica in the canton of Vaud.
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What to see and do
The restrained façade, typical of early 19th-century neo-Gothic, is dominated by a square bell tower topped with a spire. Pointed arches and buttresses echo, on a smaller scale, the vocabulary of medieval cathedrals. Inside, a single vaulted nave punctuated by engaged pillars draws the eye towards the choir.
Murals and stained-glass windows depict the life of the Virgin Mary and the saints in ochre and blue tones. The neo-Gothic liturgical furnishings are made of carved wood. In a niche in the choir, the Black Madonna, of uncertain origin, is surrounded by ex-votos and candles left by the faithful.
The organ, installed in 1878 by the Kuhn workshop, accompanies Sunday services and concerts, enhanced by the acoustics of the vaulted nave.
Practical information
Getting there : at 4 avenue du Valentin, west of the city centre, a two-minute walk from the Valentin bus stop. Limited parking is available in the surrounding streets.
Admission : free. This is an active place of worship, so visitors are asked to behave respectfully.
Groups : guided tours can be arranged on request.
On site : an information leaflet is usually available at the entrance.
Visiting tips
Try to visit on a weekday : on Sundays, services draw large congregations and limit sightseeing. In the late afternoon, light streams through the stained glass. If you are attending a service or concert, arrive a few minutes early to find a seat.
Nearby attractions
- The Musée de la main UNIL-CHUV showcases science and medicine through interactive exhibitions.
- Lausanne Cathedral towers over the old town with its medieval architecture.
- The Naturéum brings together the botany, geology and zoology of the canton of Vaud.
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