Architects Emmanuel Ramirez-Mauroy and Julien Barattucci, 2023

The idea of converting the church of St. Anthony of Padua into a climbing centre was born in the minds of four passionate climbers. This neo-gothic building, designed in 1905 by architects Edmond Serneels and Georges Cochaux, had been largely disused for several years. The founders of Maniak Padoue signed a 30-year long lease with the church administration, under which the front part of the building would remain a place of worship and the rear part would be converted into a space dedicated to climbing and social gatherings.

One of the challenges of the project was to preserve the architectural and religious heritage of the site. The building and its surroundings were cleaned up, the naves restored and the cellars reinforced with 7,800 kg of steel. The walls of the church, rising up to 18,5 m, made it possible to create no less than 1,400 m2 of climbing walls. Three types of climbing are practised: routes (roped climbing), bouldering (unroped climbing) and speed climbing. The complex also has a kilter board, a tiltable, connected wall with LED-lit holds that allow the creation of an infinite number of routes.

In an original setting, the centre is a new sports facility for the Saint Anthony district, open to its residents, schools and associations. A bar area has been installed under the vaults, open to climbers and non-climbers alike.