Luzern, CH

Franciscan Church

The Franciscan Church - one of the few original Gothic churches of Central Switzerland - is one of the oldest churches in the City of Lucerne. It was built from 1270 onwards and in several stages, with its core preserved to this day. This means that its medieval-Gothic room character is still visible and palpable even today. Its interior however has been subject to major changes: The plain wooden ceiling for instance was removed during the Baroque Period, replaced by one made from plaster and decorated with ceiling frescos. Over several centuries, the church served as a minster for the mendicants of the Order of St. Francis. It also served as a venue for services and meetings for the town population. Today it is the parish church of the St. Mary parish for Franciscans.

About this building

For more information visit http://www.kathluzern.ch/

Other nearby buildings

Jesuitenkirche

The Jesuit church, built from 1666 to 1677, was the first large baroque church in Switzerland. Both towers were added later in 1893 by the architect Heinrich Viktor von Segesser. The church was renovated in the 1950s and more widely in the 1970s. The most recent renovation was completed in January 2017.

Wikimedia Commons/Lional Rajappa

Hofkirche

The Court Church of St. Leodegar, usually called "Hofkirche", was built between 1633 and 1639 partly on the foundations of the Romanesque basilica which burned down in 1633. It is one of the few churches built north of the Alps during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) and one of the largest and most valuable churches of the late German Renaissance in terms of art history.

Sankt Karl Kirche

In 1934, the building designed by architect Fritz Metzger was inaugurated as the first concrete church in Central Switzerland. The St. Karl Kirche is thus considered the first work of modern church architecture in Lucerne. The parish itself was founded in 1922 and first met in an emergency church on Spitalstrasse. This was used as a parish hall after the inauguration of the church until it was replaced by today's parish center in 1976.

Thumbnail

Why Religiana?

How is Religiana helping to conserve and promote Religious Heritage in Europe and why should you get involved?

Find out about Religiana
Thumbnail

Become a partner

Are you a tourism organisation or religious heritage sites manager? Discover the advantages of becoming a partner.

See current partners

Keep up to date

We can keep you up to date with the latest news from Religiana and religious heritage conservation across Europe.

Sign up to the FRH newsletter

Religiana is powered by the Future for Religious Heritage