Maccabees Chapel, Gothic chapel in Old Town, Geneva, Switzerland
Maccabees Chapel is a Gothic structure in Geneva's Old Town featuring painted angels on the ceiling in shades of blue and pink. Stained glass windows cast colored light across the interior, illuminating stone walls and the ornate organ positioned above a stone burial chamber.
The chapel was built in 1397 as a burial chapel for Cardinal Jean de Brogny. During the Reformation it was repurposed for storing salt and gunpowder before eventually returning to its religious use.
The chapel takes its name from the Maccabees, ancient Jewish rebel leaders, an unusual choice for a Christian place of worship that reflects historical cross-cultural connections. This naming reveals how different traditions were sometimes honored in medieval Swiss religious spaces.
The chapel is open daily from June through September, with reduced hours during the winter months. The interior is made of stone with minimal heating, so warm clothing is advisable when visiting in colder seasons.
A Walcker organ sits directly above the cardinal's tomb, resonating with each note played in the enclosed space. The pulpit displays carved figures of Medieval Royal Houses, rendered with unusual detail for ecclesiastical decoration.
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Geneva offers a diverse heritage combining history, science, and nature on the shores of Lake Geneva. The city houses institutions such as the Palace of Nations and CERN, religious buildings like Saint Pierre Cathedral where Calvin preached, as well as cultural spaces like the Patek Philippe Museum...
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