Eglise Saint-Germain, Geneva
The Saint-Germain Church in Geneva is a historically significant Catholic church, originally one of the city's seven main parishes. Constructed in the Gothic style during the 15th century, it initially served as a Protestant church. This structure replaced earlier versions: a 9th-century early Christian basilica and a 12th-century Romanesque church, which underwent reconstruction in 1334 after a fire.
In 1535, the church was the site of Geneva's first Reformation sermon. Later, from 1537 to 1554, it was repurposed as a butcher's shop. It returned to its religious roots in the 18th century, temporarily taking over the role of the Saint-Pierre cathedral as a Protestant place of worship.
Following the French invasion in the 19th century and the 1801 concordat between Pope Pius VII and Napoleon Bonaparte, which required local acceptance of a Roman Catholic church, Saint-Germain was chosen for conversion in 1803. In 1873, it was handed over to the Christian Catholic Church and, after the 1907 Church-State separation, became the property of Geneva's Christian Catholic Church.
An early 20th-century fire in the bell tower led to the loss of the original bells. A replacement bell, weighing 120 kilos and crafted in 1764 by Jean-Louis Revillard, was sourced from the city's clock tower. The restoration, including this change, lasted from 1906 to 1908. In 1908, a morning-hour-specific sundial, designed by Albert Schmidt, was placed outside the sacristy wall above a fountain. It features a depiction of death on a donkey under the sun, symbolizing life's transience.
Designated as a historic monument and a national cultural asset in 1921, the church has been hosting outdoor classical music concerts each summer since 1973. In 2008, commemorating 100 years since the 1908 refurbishment of the bell tower, two new bells were installed. These bells, with weights of 260 kilograms and 70 kilograms, were made by Paccard Foundry in Annecy.
In 1535, the church was the site of Geneva's first Reformation sermon. Later, from 1537 to 1554, it was repurposed as a butcher's shop. It returned to its religious roots in the 18th century, temporarily taking over the role of the Saint-Pierre cathedral as a Protestant place of worship.
Following the French invasion in the 19th century and the 1801 concordat between Pope Pius VII and Napoleon Bonaparte, which required local acceptance of a Roman Catholic church, Saint-Germain was chosen for conversion in 1803. In 1873, it was handed over to the Christian Catholic Church and, after the 1907 Church-State separation, became the property of Geneva's Christian Catholic Church.
An early 20th-century fire in the bell tower led to the loss of the original bells. A replacement bell, weighing 120 kilos and crafted in 1764 by Jean-Louis Revillard, was sourced from the city's clock tower. The restoration, including this change, lasted from 1906 to 1908. In 1908, a morning-hour-specific sundial, designed by Albert Schmidt, was placed outside the sacristy wall above a fountain. It features a depiction of death on a donkey under the sun, symbolizing life's transience.
Designated as a historic monument and a national cultural asset in 1921, the church has been hosting outdoor classical music concerts each summer since 1973. In 2008, commemorating 100 years since the 1908 refurbishment of the bell tower, two new bells were installed. These bells, with weights of 260 kilograms and 70 kilograms, were made by Paccard Foundry in Annecy.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Geneva. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
Eglise Saint-Germain on Map
Sight Name: Eglise Saint-Germain
Sight Location: Geneva, Switzerland (See walking tours in Geneva)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Geneva, Switzerland (See walking tours in Geneva)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Geneva, Switzerland
Create Your Own Walk in Geneva
Creating your own self-guided walk in Geneva is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Architectural Jewels
Geneva, a city renowned for its diplomatic prowess and picturesque landscapes, boasts an array of architectural jewels. The remarkable medieval and more contemporary structures such as Geneva Town Hall (H么tel de Ville), Saint Peter Cathedral (Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre), and Schtroumph Buildings, showing a mix of French and German influences, have captivated both locals and tourists for decades.
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Best Swiss Watch Shops Tour
When it comes to quality and precision, Swiss-made watches are known to be the best. Some of the world-renowned watch brands have been designed and masterminded in Geneva. The city's watch industry dates back to the 16th century, and since then has constantly developed to produce the most desired timepieces.
Geneva hosts a cluster of specialized shops that cater to the refined tastes of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Geneva hosts a cluster of specialized shops that cater to the refined tastes of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Historical Churches
As the cradle of the Reformist movement in Europe led by theologian Jean Calvin, the city of Geneva has no shortage of religious sites representing a great deal of historical and cultural value. A dedicated Christian, a keen churchgoer, or simply one who is interested in objects of spirituality will find here quite a few temples worthy of attention.
Whether you're drawn to the austere... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Whether you're drawn to the austere... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Chocolate Tour
Chocolate started to gain popularity in Switzerland in the early 16th century and has since evolved to become a highly appreciated Swiss commodity throughout the world. Almost every city or town in the country has at least one chocolate shop, and Geneva is by far no exception.
The local chocolate scene is a true delight for any cocoa enthusiast. Here, you'll find a handful of iconic... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
The local chocolate scene is a true delight for any cocoa enthusiast. Here, you'll find a handful of iconic... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Geneva Introduction Walking Tour
The city of Geneva enjoys picturesque location at the southern tip of the expansive Lac L茅man (aka Lake Geneva), surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, including the dramatic Mont Blanc peak.
The city was mentioned for the first time in Latin texts, by Caesar, with the spelling Genava, derived probably from the Celtic genawa- or genu- ("bend, knee"), in the sense of a bending... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
The city was mentioned for the first time in Latin texts, by Caesar, with the spelling Genava, derived probably from the Celtic genawa- or genu- ("bend, knee"), in the sense of a bending... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles