Together with the cathedral, the St-François church is the only religious building in Lausanne to predate the Reformation. Its history is closely connected to that of the city. In 1258, the Franciscans established a base in Lausanne. They built a church and monastic buildings on the south-western edge of the city. With the exception of the chancel, which still remains in place today, the church burnt down during the great fire of 1368. It was rebuilt thanks to the generous donations of nobles whose coats of arms are featured on the vault of the nave.
Inside, one can admire the magnificent baroque organ case (1776) and stained-glass windows dating from the early 20th century that were made by C. Heaton, A. Cingria and E. Biéler, among others. Organised tours with Lausanne MDA tour guides available on request. |
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