Franziskanerkirche

The Franziskanerkirche, or Franciscan Church, stands on the Franziskanerplatz in the Old Town of Lucerne, Switzerland, just south of the Reuss. The Franciscan order established itself in Lucerne in the 13th century, and the church and monastery that grew up on this site became a significant religious and educational centre in the medieval town. The earliest church was a plain mendicant building in the style typical of the order, with a long nave and a simple choir. Over the centuries the church was altered and extended, and in the 17th and 18th centuries it received Baroque furnishings, which now give the interior its character. The nave has a flat panelled ceiling and a wooden pulpit, and the choir features altars with painted panels and carved ornament. The Franciscans remained in Lucerne through the Reformation, a period in which the city stayed Catholic and the monastery was an important religious institution. The adjoining monastery buildings, to the side of the church, once housed the friars and a library; they have been adapted for other uses over time. Restoration campaigns in the 20th century repaired the roof and refreshed the interior, and the church continues to be used for worship and the occasional concert. Compared with the Jesuitenkirche and the Hofkirche, it is modest in scale, and its quiet atmosphere appeals to visitors seeking a less crowded church. The square outside is lined with older houses and is a short walk from the Kapellbrücke. Visitors may enter freely when open, and the experience is self-guided; opening depends on services.