St. Joseph's Abbey of Nancy was located in the center of the city. It was a hospice founded in 1635 by monks of the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré.
A prior was at their head. At the beginning of the 18th century, the monks decided to build a church. The Italian architect Giovanni Betto was called upon, but the work started in 1713 was not completed until 1759.
However, at the start of the Revolution, the Premonstratensian community disappeared. And initially disused, the abbey church was finally saved but assigned in 1807 to the reformed cult.
The building then becomes the Temple Saint-Jean. Interior alterations are soon carried out, with the development of a gallery and the installation of a new altar. And at the same time, part of the furniture and the marble altar of the old church are transferred to the Saint-Sébastien church.
Architecturally, adopting a style between baroque and classicism, the building evokes the church of Sainte-Marie Majeure in Pont-à-Mousson (which also belonged to the Premonstratensians).
The facade is made up of two orders: at the level of the first, a high staircase leads to the portal forming a forepart decorated with four Corinthian pilasters. The porch is surmounted by a circular pediment where Saint Joseph has been sculpted holding the child Jesus. The second is surmounted by a richly carved triangular pediment.
The former abbey church which has become the Saint-Jean temple (due to the proximity of the former eponymous gate) is protected as historical monuments.
Open occasionally (Heritage Days). The beautiful façade, on the other hand, is visible every day from the outside during a walk in the historic center of the city. Information on +33 3 83 35 80 10 or +33 3 83 32 02 34.
