Visit the Church of St. Maurice to get a sense of the long religious history of the picturesque Alpine town of Annecy. Located in the heart of Annecy, this beautiful Catholic church is close to many other sites of historic interest.
The church was initially used as a chapel for the Dominican convent that once stood close by. Work on the building began in 1422, under the sponsorship of Cardinal Jean-Allarmet de Brogny. However, construction continued for around 90 years afterward.
See if you can tell which parts of the church are the earliest and which parts date from later expansions. Various members of the local nobility as well as wealthy merchants funded the additional chapels around the nave, which were built from around 1478 onwards. In 1957, the building was designated a French national monument.
Note the classic Gothic features of the building’s architecture before you step inside. Look at the church from the town hall and you may see that it appears to slope to one side. The church is slowly tilting, but is still stable.
Inside the church take the time to look for some of its most interesting and notable features. These include a painting of the burial of the Lord of Monthuoz, located in the choir, as well as a painting of the Virgin Mary in the nave.
After visiting the church, stop by some of the other highlights of Annecy located close by. Directly to the east is the sparkling Lake Annecy, the focal point of the town. Walk around 5 minutes southwest to reach the ancient Annecy Castle, which is now home to an engaging museum. Find many other historic churches within walking distance too.
Visit the Church of St. Maurice for free any day of the week. Be aware that this remains an active place of worship, so at certain times of the day Masses will be held.
