What does the reader do in the Geneva Cathedral. Saint-Pierre Cathedral. About the design of the Cathedral

Geneva's Cathedral of Saint Peter (Saint-Pierre Cathedral) is located in the center of Geneva, in the Cité district. The cathedral is one of the most famous and visited attractions in the capital of Switzerland. Christian churches and a baptistery have existed on this site since the 4th century. Construction of St. Peter's Basilica began in 1160 and was completed in 1252. Initially, the temple was built in the Romanesque style; later, in the process of rebuilding and reconstruction, Gothic elements were added. The main building of the temple is 64 meters long; in the side aisles there are huge stone blocks - tombstones of church dignitaries of the 15th - 16th centuries. Later, the North and South Towers were built, into which you can climb a spiral staircase and admire the views of Geneva from the observation deck. In 1406, the Maccobean Chapel was added to the cathedral, the interior of which is decorated with Gothic-style ornaments; in 1407, the Clement bell was cast and installed, the largest of the cathedral's bells, weighing more than 6 tons. In 1441, the northern wall of the nave was seriously damaged and was restored only in 1449. The cathedral was rebuilt several times until the 18th century. In 1752 - 1756, a neoclassical facade was built according to the design of the architect Benedetto Alfrieri. Today, the building of Saint-Pierre Cathedral is a harmonious mixture of several architectural styles. Until 1535, the cathedral was a Catholic church, but during the Reformation, Catholicism was banned, and the temple became Protestant. It was from this time that the temple began to be called St. Peter's Basilica. The life and work of the church reformer and founder of Calvinism, John Calvin, is closely connected with its history. In 1536 - 1538, within the walls of the cathedral, Calvin lectured on the New Testament, at the same time he wrote a brief summary of his views on the Reformation, the Catechism. In the temple, there is still a triangular wooden chair next to the pulpit, which is known as the “Calvin chair.” The original decoration of the temple interiors has not been preserved. During the Reformation, altars, statues and icons in the cathedral were destroyed, organs were broken, and wall paintings were covered with whitewash. Only the huge pulpit and stained glass windows have survived. Large-scale restoration work was carried out in the 19th - 20th centuries, during which archaeologist Charles Bonnet carried out excavations in the basement floors of the cathedral. Over the entire period of work, archaeologists discovered more than 200 levels of buildings, including those from the protohistoric and Roman periods. Now they are open to the public, the route begins from the 3rd century BC and ends with the 12th century - the time of construction of the Saint-Pierre Cathedral.

• Address: Place du Bourg-de-Four 24, 1204 Genève, Switzerland
• Telephone: +41 22 311 75 75
• Website: www.saintpierre-geneve.ch
• Start of construction: 1160
• Working hours: 8.30 - 18.30, Sunday - 12.00 - 18.30
• Cost of visit: adult - 8 francs, child - 4 francs

One of the main ones has long been St. Peter's Cathedral or, as locals call it, the Saint Pien Cathedral. Its walls preserve centuries-old history, and the building itself amazes with its extraordinary Gothic style. At night, the cathedral is illuminated by many spotlights, which give it a special charm.

In 1160, construction began on St. Peter's Cathedral. At that moment, many unpleasant events were happening in the city that influenced the date of its opening. Only 150 years later, Saint Pien Cathedral began to function and became one of the best at that time in. Initially, it was built in the classical Romanesque style, but over the years it was reconstructed more than once, and, accordingly, the style of architecture was changed and diluted with others. In 1406, a chapel in the classicist style was built near St. Peter's Cathedral; at that time, several walls of the temple itself were rebuilt and resembled classical baroque. Despite such a diverse combination of styles, in general, the cathedral has a rather beautiful, appropriate Gothic style.

Today St. Peter's Cathedral is active. It has become the real pride of local residents and a must-visit place in. Festive masses are held there, prayers are read, the church choir sings and musicians play the organ. The main value of the cathedral was the throne of the reformer John Calvin, as well as several icons of the Middle Ages. Surprisingly, there are quite a few icons in it. The cathedral does not have its own iconostasis, but each prayer book is dedicated to a specific Saint.

Inside, the cathedral will surprise you with its stunning architecture and wonderful atmosphere. Its roof, or rather the domed area, is especially beautiful, because artistic illustrations from the Bible have been adorning the vaulted ceiling for more than a century. If you are lucky, you will be able to participate in masses, which will give you many pleasant experiences.

When entering St. Peter's Basilica, women must wear a headscarf. It seems to be a common rule, but there is still a difference. Under no circumstances should a scarf be replaced with a shawl. Motley and bright shades of clothing are not welcome. Men who have tattoos should hide them well under a layer of clothing. Violation of this dress code is considered offensive and unacceptable.

The Saint-Pierre Cathedral is open every day from 8.30 to 18.30, and on Sunday it is open to tourists from 12.00 to 18.30. On Sunday morning, only parishioners or ministers from other churches can come to it. The ticket price is small - 8 francs per adult, 4 for children. You can get to the temple by bus No. 8, 10 and 11. The nearest public transport stops are Molard and Cathedrale.

The convenient location of the cathedral in the very center allows tourists to also visit other interesting places in Geneva: the famous and some of the best - and

The archbishop's chair in Poitiers was founded in the 3rd century; it is now located in St. Peter's Cathedral, the construction of which began in the 12th century.

The cathedral began to be built on the site of the destroyed Church of St. Hilary, consecrated in the name of the first bishop of Poitiers. The cathedral was built near the Baptistery of St. John and the Church of Notre-Dame-la-Grand. The initiator of the construction of the temple was Henry II Plantagenet, who financed the work from his own funds. Therefore, the church is considered an example of a special architectural movement - Angevin Gothic, also called the Plantagenet style. The difference between this style and, for example, Gothic is the higher vaults.

The Angevin style during the construction of the cathedral was used exactly until the change of royal power - Philip II, who came to rule at the end of the 12th century, and had other architectural preferences, continued the construction of the temple in the French Gothic style.

The façade of the cathedral was built in the mid-13th century. The tympanum of its central entrance is decorated with a sculpture of the Judgment Day scene. The side portals are decorated with images of the Virgin Mary and Doubting Thomas.

After the Great French Revolution, the cathedral lost its cathedral status, which was returned to it some time later. The temple has been a National Historic Landmark since 1875.

The apse of the cathedral is decorated with a stained glass window from the 12th century, which depicts a crucifix surrounded by saints and donors (notable persons who sponsored the construction of the temple and the creation of the stained glass window). Among the donors, Henry II Plantagenet himself is depicted along with his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine. Other sections of the stained glass window display biblical scenes: the Ascension of the Lord, the trials of St. Peter and the beheading of the Apostle Paul. The interior of the temple preserves carved antique furniture, a Baroque altar made of black marble, and an organ made by the master Clicquot in the 18th century.

The famous St. Peter's Basilica in Geneva is the city's cathedral. There are cultural and historical monuments that never lose their relevance and, even through the centuries, are full of grandeur and beauty. Such is this Cathedral, which crowns all the other main attractions of Geneva, recommended for inspection.

From the history of St. Peter's Basilica

In this very place in the distant 4th century there stood more than one Christian temple and baptistery. The construction of the main city temple took place within more than one historical era: each ruler, architect, and townspeople contributed something of their own to the construction, characteristic of that time. That is why several architectural styles are so surprisingly intertwined in the external appearance of the temple. Among the main dates in the history of St. Peter's Basilica are the following milestones:

• 1160 – start of construction;
• 1310 - completion of construction;
• 1406 – the Chapel of the Maccabees was erected;
• 1441 - the northern wall of the nave suffered serious damage;
• 1449 – reconstruction of the damaged wall;
• 1535 - The Council becomes reformist;
• mid-18th century - a new facade was built in the neoclassical style.

It was St. Peter's Basilica that became one of the first churches of Calvinism.

Architectural styles in the exterior of Geneva Cathedral

All the sights of Switzerland are unique and unusual in their own way, but it was the Geneva Cathedral that so harmoniously managed to combine so many European styles in its architectural appearance.

• The cathedral was originally conceived as a Romanesque building.
• Later it acquires Gothic features.
• With further construction, the temple is supplemented with more and more new elements.
• The massive façade is built in neoclassical style.

The austerity of the nave marks the smooth transition of the Cathedral from Catholicism to Protestantism. The Cathedral building rises majestically and solemnly above the Old Town and attracts the admiring glances of tourists from different parts of the city.

Interior of Geneva Cathedral

The interior decoration of the Cathedral, as well as its appearance, will not leave anyone indifferent. Here you can see unique historical relics:

• Calvin's chair is one of the main exhibits of the cathedral;
• You can climb the north tower, which offers an unforgettable panoramic view.

The unique, unusual, solemn and monumental St. Peter's Cathedral in Geneva amazes all tourists with its beauty and majesty. Not visiting it means not seeing Switzerland.

After such a busy excursion, you can go to relax in a pre-booked hotel in Geneva. Or, if you are still full of energy, to the picturesque Botanical Garden, where there are picnic areas and children can run freely on the lawns. On its territory there is also a zoo with endangered species of animals.

The triumph of the Protestant faith embodied in stone - this is what St. Peter's Cathedral in Geneva looks like these days. The majestic, truly grandiose building, located in the old part of the city, began to be built back in 1160, when Calvin and his ideas were the distant future. Construction lasted about a century and a half, which is quite typical for that harsh era. However, Christian churches existed on this site seven centuries earlier, that is, this land has given shelter to churches for more than one and a half millennia.

History of St. Peter's Basilica

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève - this is the name of this most important landmark of Geneva - was originally built in the Romanesque style, which, under the influence of the era, was gradually replaced by Gothic. Century after century it was completed and decorated, and often improvements were caused by purely practical necessity. For example, the northern wall of the nave suffered serious damage in 1441 and was by no means restored to its original form.

The famous Geneva Cathedral also underwent a serious change in the form of reconstruction of the facade in the middle of the 18th century. But, as we know, what is done with love turns out well, and Geneva's favorite brainchild, St. Peter's Cathedral, today represents a unique and harmonious mixture of several architectural styles popular in Europe at different times. Now it combines classical, Gothic and several other types of architecture, which attracts lovers of this type of art.

Features of the Temple de Saint-Pierre monument

Even today, when buildings with dozens of floors do not seem like a curiosity, the cathedral makes a stunning impression with its slender columns and a magnificent view of the city from the observation deck located on the northern tower. There is no need to talk about the impression of those who came here two, three, five centuries ago; for most parishioners it was the most beautiful thing they could ever see.

• The cathedral is by no means a museum or anything like that, it is an actively operating temple, which idle tourists should not enter during worship hours. Unless there is a sincere desire to be imbued with the spirit of the Protestant faith or simply turn to God here.
• Photography and video shooting are allowed in the building, with only one limitation - so that it does not disrupt the course of the service and does not offend anyone’s religious feelings.
• For a moderate fee, you can climb to the South and North towers along a narrow twisted stone staircase. One thing to keep in mind – the climb towards the end becomes a bit difficult due to the high and narrow steps. But the view of old Geneva makes up for it.

As for other things, it is necessary to behave here in the same way as in any other religious building.

About the design of the Cathedral

The cathedral became one of the first churches of a new religious movement and involuntarily found itself in the center of the then religious and political conflict between Catholicism and Calvinism (Jacques Calvin became the spiritual leader of the then Protestants). The chair on which Calvin sat is one of the carefully preserved exhibits.

Until 1536, the temple was Catholic, and it was decorated with traditional statues of saints and frescoes with religious motifs. The new religion called all this idolatry and imposed mandatory strictness in the environment in the church. However, people tend to strive for beauty despite the commandments of strict religious teachers, and the Protestant version of the cathedral ultimately turned out to be even more beautiful than the old, Catholic one.