Jesuit Church, Lucerne

Lucerne, a picturesque city nestled in the heart of Switzerland, is home to many architectural marvels, but perhaps none as striking as the Jesuit Church. Known locally as Jesuitenkirche St. Franz Xaver mit Sakristei und Kirchenschatz, this baroque masterpiece stands proudly on the banks of the Reuss River, drawing visitors with its grandeur and historical significance.

The History of the Jesuit Church

The Jesuit Church, dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, was constructed between 1666 and 1677. It holds the distinction of being the first large baroque church built in Switzerland. The church's design is attributed to either Michael Beer or Michael Thumb, both from the Vorarlberg region, or possibly to Jesuit Fathers Heinrich Mayer and Christoph Vogler. The structure’s completion marked a significant period in Swiss architectural history, laying the foundation for the development of the Vorarlberg cathedral scheme in Switzerland and southern Germany.

Over the centuries, the Jesuit Church has undergone several renovations, with major refurbishments in the 1950s, the 1970s, and the most recent in January 2017. Despite these updates, the church has retained its original charm and continues to be a beacon of baroque architecture in Lucerne.

Architectural Marvels

The facade of the Jesuit Church is a symphony of baroque elements, divided into five axes and two main stories. Ionic pilasters provide vertical accents, while cornices add horizontal delineation. The lower story features portals, recessed wall panels, and windows, while the upper story is adorned with windows and prominent wall panels. A large segmental pediment unifies the central axis and the adjacent narrower axes, crowned by a second pediment with volutes and another segmental pediment, topped with a gilded cross. The outer facade axes recede and are capped with dummy balustrades, a work of the 19th century, just like the octagonal tower stories with sound arcades and constricted onion domes.

Exploring the Interior

Stepping inside the Jesuit Church is like entering a different era. The interior is a hall church with side galleries, featuring four bays. The choir is broad and rectangular, ending in a semicircular apse. The walls are dominated by pilasters with double fluted Corinthian capitals, except for the west gallery and choir, which have simple pilasters. Below are chapel rooms, with oratories above. The highest level of the main cornice runs around the entire interior, including the organ loft and choir apse. Above the main cornice, round-arched windows flood the interior with light, creating a heavenly atmosphere. The ceiling is a barrel vault with transverse arches, partly hidden by frescoes from the mid-18th century. Doors under massive segmental pediments lead to side rooms from the choir bay.

The Rich Interior Decoration

The church is renowned for its lavish interior decoration. The high altar, designed by Christoph Bruck based on Heinrich Mayer's plans, features three tiers of columns in front of pilaster backdrops, a broken segmental pediment, and a volute-supported top with the sacred name IHS. At the top, the eye of God shines before a radiant glory. The altarpiece by Francesco Innocenzo Torriani (1681) depicts the glory of St. Francis Xavier, the co-founder of the Jesuit Order and the patron saint of Lucerne. He is shown kneeling on a cloud, with Mary and the Child surrounded by angels above.

The main nave fresco by Giovanni Antonio and Giuseppe Antonio Torricelli shows the titular saint in a carriage drawn by an elephant, a dromedary, a horse, and a cheetah, symbolizing the regions he evangelized. One of Xavier's hands rests on a flaming heart. In front of the faithful facade of the Lucerne Jesuit Church and an honorary gate to the right, members of the order, a bishop, and secular dignitaries are gathered. The Latin words on the banner of a trumpet-blowing angel read: To Saint Francis Xavier, the protector of the city and the land.

The early baroque stucco work by Michael Schmuzer, based on Heinrich Mayer's design, is preserved only in the chapels and on the galleries. The nave stucco was created by Jakob Heilratt and Joseph Rauch in 1749/1750. The pulpit, another work by Christoph Bruck, dates back to 1673.

The Magnificent Organ

The church's organ, built by Metzler in 1982, incorporates parts of the original 1897 Goll organ. The instrument features 39 stops on three manuals and a pedal, with mechanical action. This magnificent organ continues to fill the church with heavenly music, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere.

The Jesuit Church in Lucerne is more than just a place of worship; it is a testament to the city's rich cultural and architectural heritage. Whether you are an architecture enthusiast, a history buff, or simply a curious traveler, a visit to this baroque gem is a journey through time, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of Lucerne's past and the enduring beauty of its present.