Jesuit Church, Lucerne

Jesuit Church, Lucerne tickets: which one to buy

The Jesuit church stands on the left bank of the river Reuss in Lucerne, a few minutes' walk from the Chapel Bridge and the railway station, and entry is free. Its white facade with twin onion-domed towers is one of the most photographed views in the city, reflected in the river. Walking tours of Lucerne pass the church on the way between the Chapel Bridge, the Spreuer Bridge and the old town, and some go inside.

Organ concerts are held regularly, especially in summer, and are an excellent way to hear the church's fine instrument. Most visitors to Lucerne also take a lake cruise or a trip up Mount Pilatus or the Rigi, and the church is an easy stop before or after, since the boat piers are nearby. The church is active, and visiting pauses during services. The church is barrier-free at the main entrance and offers seating throughout the nave.

Visiting Jesuit Church, Lucerne: what to see

The Jesuits came to Lucerne in the sixteenth century, and the church, dedicated to Saint Francis Xavier, was built between 1666 and 1677. It is considered the first large baroque church built in Switzerland north of the Alps, and it became a model for others. The facade faces the river, and the two towers with their onion domes were completed only in 1893. Inside, the church is bright and elegant: a wide white nave with pink and white stucco decoration, a ceiling painting of Saint Francis Xavier in glory, and a high altar with columns of red marble imitation.

The interior was redecorated in a rococo style in the eighteenth century and carefully restored in the twentieth. A chapel holds the robe of Brother Klaus, the Swiss hermit and patron saint. The organ in the gallery is one of the best in Switzerland. The pulpit and side altars are decorated with gilded carvings and paintings of Jesuit saints, and the stucco ceiling shows scenes from the order's missions.

Jesuit Church, Lucerne opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open daily. Mornings and late afternoons are good times to see the facade reflected in the river, especially in calm weather. Lucerne is busy with tourists year round, and especially in summer, when coach groups and cruise visitors crowd the bridges and old town. The Lucerne Festival, one of the most important classical music festivals in Europe, takes place in summer and at Easter, and the city is full then.

Carnival in February is famous for its noisy parades. Winter is quieter and atmospheric, with Christmas markets. Allow about twenty minutes for the church, and walk along the river to the Spreuer Bridge with its painted panels of the dance of death. The terrace in front of the church, on the riverbank, is a popular spot to sit and watch the swans and the covered bridges.