A small village with grandiose architecture

a small village with grandiose architecture

Come and discover Ars-sur-Formans, a charming village where you can walk in the footsteps of Jean-Marie Vianney, who became Saint Curé d’Ars. In accordance with his wishes, the Basilique Saint Sixte was built by Pierre Marie Bossan, the architect of Fourvière in Lyon, and is an architectural treasure not to be missed. For the rest of your visit, you can admire the wax museum of the Grévin studios in Paris, which retraces the life of the Saint Curé, or browse the rooms of his well-preserved house, and much more.

Getting there

A timeless interlude in Ars-sur-Formans

There are places that make a lasting impression, and Ars-sur-Formans is one of them. In this short video, discover a village rich in history! Open the parenthesis, and let yourself be surprised…

Ars-sur-Formans, un petit village à l'architecture grandiose

A Fourvière for Aindin

Saint Sixtus Basilica

You’ll be surprised by its size, and intrigued by the original structure of the small, well-preserved Romanesque church, enhanced by the neo-Byzantine style of the superimposed basilica. A colorful play of materials: the green of the cupola roofs, the brick red of the bell tower, the white and ochre of the stone. All this heralds the rich polychromy of the interior. A harmony and elegance that’s sure to touch you!

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Surprises around every corner

Continue your stroll through this peaceful village. Visit the Maison du Saint Curé, a typical Dombiste adobe house with period furniture, which has remained unchanged since his death. As you turn out of the house, you’ll be overwhelmed by the beauty of the Chapelle du Cœur, built in 1930 and housing the relic of the heart of the Saint Curé d’Ars.

La Maison du Saint Curé

Church Semi Souterraine Ars Sur Formans — ©Ars-sur-Formans.|Daniel Gillet

An architectural feat

Then take the elliptical staircase and step inside the remarkable and surprising Église Notre Dame de la Miséricorde, built in 1959 by architect Pierre Pinsard. This semi-subterranean church, built in the image of a great concrete vessel, will seduce you with its majestic interior. It is reserved for large-scale events such as :

Sunday morning Masses at 11 a.m., Masses on the occasion of festivities such as Easter or Christmas

Ordinations of seminarians studying at the John Paul II seminary in Ars

The mass celebrated on August 4 to mark the anniversary of the death of the Curé d’Ars, also broadcast in the meadow.

Fancy a walk to admire the countryside around Ars? Discover our itinerary which will guide you in the footsteps of Jean-Marie Vianney, Saint Curé d’Ars, a man with an extraordinary destiny, and help you discover a countryside conducive to rejuvenation.