Basilique Notre-Dame, Geneva
The Basilique de Notre-Dame serves as the primary Catholic church in Geneva. It was constructed between 1852 and 1857 based on the architectural plans of Alexandre Grigny. The basilica stands on the former site of defensive fortifications. This Neo-Gothic structure draws some of its design inspiration from the Beauvais Cathedral. Its establishment was made possible through a combination of factors, including the city of Geneva granting land to religious communities for the construction of places of worship, along with donations and manual labor contributed by the Catholic community in Geneva.
Inside the basilica, there is a statue of Our Lady of Geneva, a gift from Pope Pius IX, which is highly revered. However, the basilica is particularly renowned for its stained glass windows. While some of these windows are produced in a semi-industrial Neo-Gothic style, most of them showcase the evolution of stained glass art during the 20th century. These windows come in various styles, following the era of Claudius Lavergne, who installed them between 1857 and 1875. Starting in 1912, several artists have contributed to the decoration of the basilica, including Charles Brunner, Alexandre Cingria, Maurice Denis, Gherri Moro, Paul Monnier, Jean-Claude Morend, and Théodore Strawinsky.
The basilica has been recognized as a culturally significant National Heritage Site.
Inside the basilica, there is a statue of Our Lady of Geneva, a gift from Pope Pius IX, which is highly revered. However, the basilica is particularly renowned for its stained glass windows. While some of these windows are produced in a semi-industrial Neo-Gothic style, most of them showcase the evolution of stained glass art during the 20th century. These windows come in various styles, following the era of Claudius Lavergne, who installed them between 1857 and 1875. Starting in 1912, several artists have contributed to the decoration of the basilica, including Charles Brunner, Alexandre Cingria, Maurice Denis, Gherri Moro, Paul Monnier, Jean-Claude Morend, and Théodore Strawinsky.
The basilica has been recognized as a culturally significant National Heritage Site.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Geneva. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: 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.
Basilique Notre-Dame on Map
Sight Name: Basilique Notre-Dame
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
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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.
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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
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Historical Churches
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles