Jesuitenkirche

The Jesuitenkirche, or Jesuit Church, stands on the north bank of the Reuss in Lucerne, Switzerland, beside the river and the Rathausquai. It was built between 1666 and 1673 for the Society of Jesus, which had been invited to Lucerne in 1573 by the city's Catholic authorities to run a school and strengthen the Catholic cause against the Reformation. It is generally regarded as the first large Baroque church in Switzerland, designed as a wall-pillar hall in the style of Jesuit churches of southern Germany and northern Italy. The twin-towered façade faces the river, and its onion domes were added in the 1890s. The interior is notable for its white and pink stucco decoration, which was added in the 1700s in the Rococo manner and gives the nave a light, theatrical feel. Frescoes in the vault depict Jesuit saints and scenes from the life of Christ, and the high altar dates from the 17th century. Following the suppression of the Jesuits in 1773, the building passed to the city and later served as a parish church. Restoration campaigns in the 20th century repaired the stucco and ceiling paintings, and further conservation was completed in the early 21st century. The church remains in active use for worship and for concerts. Visitors may enter freely during opening hours, with later morning starts on Mondays and Thursdays, and move through the nave unaccompanied. Interpretation is through information boards at the entrance. The setting beside the Reuss, next to the Kapellbrücke and a short distance from the railway station, makes it an easy stop on an Old Town walk.