The Saint François de Sales Memorial, Annecy

The Saint François de Sales Memorial in Annecy pays tribute to one of the most influential figures in the region’s history, Saint Francis de Sales. Born in 1567 into a religious aristocratic family at the Chateau de Sales, within the Duchy of Savoy, Francis de Sales lived through the tumultuous period of the French Wars of Religion (1562–1598). This era was marked by events like the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572 and the eventual signing of the Edict of Nantes in 1598, which sought to bring peace between Catholics and Protestants.

After excelling in his studies in Paris and Padua, Francis returned to Annecy to become a priest. His dedication and faith, alongside his companion Louis, led to the conversion of over seventy thousand Calvinists, despite the considerable risks they faced during their mission.

Located at the intersection of Place aux Bois and Rue des Marquisats in Annecy, the memorial features a striking bronze statue of Saint François de Sales. Designed by architect Fleury Raillon, cast by the Fonderie Siot, and sculpted by Descatoire and Jean Weitmenn, the statue was inaugurated on September 14, 1924. The ceremony was presided over by Monseigneur du Bois de la Villerabel, the Bishop of Annecy, and Haut-Savoyard Henry Bordeaux, a member of the French Academy.

The statue portrays Saint François de Sales seated in his episcopal chair, with his right hand resting on one of his books, a nod to his legacy as a great writer and theologian in the French language. Dubbed the "Glory of Savoy and French letters," Saint Francis de Sales remains a beacon of religious tolerance and literary brilliance, celebrated through this enduring monument in the heart of Annecy.