Payerne Priory, Romanesque church in Payerne, Switzerland

Payerne Priory is a medieval church building in Switzerland distinguished by its heavy stone walls and rounded arches. The interior space is defined by thick columns that support the roof and create an impressive sense of height and volume.

The priory was founded in the mid-10th century by the Burgundy royal family and reached its peak moment in 1033 when Emperor Conrad II was crowned King of Burgundy there. This coronation ceremony made the site a center of medieval authority.

Since 1869 a museum has occupied the surviving Romanesque monastic buildings, and the former abbey church now holds an interactive discovery tour included in the admission price. The three bells of the abbey church ring together with the bell of the neighbouring Reformed parish church as a four-voice peal. Since 1999 the church has housed an organ by Jürgen Ahrend, built after Italian models with a copy of Lorenzo da Prato's case from San Petronio in Bologna.

The building is typically open to visitors from Tuesday through Sunday and can be viewed from the outside freely. Those interested in a deeper look can inquire about guided tours, which are usually available by prior arrangement.

In the 12th century, monks here created forged documents and attributed them to a legendary queen to secure greater independence from the powerful Cluny Abbey. These forgeries were part of their strategy to strengthen their position and acquire more land.