Basilique Notre-Dame, Geneva

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.

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.

Download The GPSmyCity App

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:

Walking Tours in Geneva, Switzerland

Create Your Own Walk in Geneva

Create Your Own Walk in Geneva

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.
Architectural Jewels

Architectural Jewels

Geneva, a city renowned for its diplomatic prowess and picturesque landscapes, boasts an array of architectural jewels. The remarkable medieval and more contemporary structures such as Geneva Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville), Saint Peter Cathedral (Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre), and Schtroumph Buildings, showing a mix of French and German influences, have captivated both locals and tourists for decades.
...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Geneva Introduction Walking Tour

Geneva Introduction Walking Tour

The city of Geneva enjoys picturesque location at the southern tip of the expansive Lac Léman (aka Lake Geneva), surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, including the dramatic Mont Blanc peak.

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
Chocolate Tour

Chocolate Tour

Chocolate started to gain popularity in Switzerland in the early 16th century and has since evolved to become a highly appreciated Swiss commodity throughout the world. Almost every city or town in the country has at least one chocolate shop, and Geneva is by far no exception.

The local chocolate scene is a true delight for any cocoa enthusiast. Here, you'll find a handful of iconic...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Best Swiss Watch Shops Tour

Best Swiss Watch Shops Tour

When it comes to quality and precision, Swiss-made watches are known to be the best. Some of the world-renowned watch brands have been designed and masterminded in Geneva. The city's watch industry dates back to the 16th century, and since then has constantly developed to produce the most desired timepieces.

Geneva hosts a cluster of specialized shops that cater to the refined tastes of...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Historical Churches

Historical Churches

As the cradle of the Reformist movement in Europe led by theologian Jean Calvin, the city of Geneva has no shortage of religious sites representing a great deal of historical and cultural value. A dedicated Christian, a keen churchgoer, or simply one who is interested in objects of spirituality will find here quite a few temples worthy of attention.

Whether you're drawn to the austere...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles