Les Eglises - Centre d'art contemporain de la ville de Chelles

When two adjoining churches in Chelles were earmarked for demolition, the local council intervened, determined to convert them into a contemporary art venue. Franco-Hungarian designer Martin Szekely and urban landscaper Marc Barani were called in, and they transformed the site into a model of stark, austere beauty: stained-glass windows, a jasmine garden, bold architectural lines. It’s unique among arts centres in that it focuses on art that above all questions notions of territory (urban, architectural, or even historical). Opened in 2008, Les Églises boasts four exhibitions per year, with some performances, conferences and workshops sprinkled in for good measure.