Saint-François-de-Sales church, Baroque church in central Annecy, France
Saint-François-de-Sales is a baroque church located in central Annecy with a two-level facade crowned by a triangular pediment. Its architectural design reflects influences from the Roman Gesù church, displaying elegant proportions and refined exterior details throughout.
The church was built from 1642 as a Baroque sanctuary of the first monastery of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, founded in 1610. It held the tombs of Jane Frances de Chantal and Francis de Sales, later moved to the Basilica of the Visitation. During the French Revolution it was turned into a manufactory; worship resumed in 1923 and the building was restored in 2003. It has been listed as a monument historique since 1952.
The church is also called église des Italiens, a name tied to its history as the sanctuary of the first monastery of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, founded in 1610. It faces the Palais de l'Isle in Annecy's old town and is still a Catholic place of worship.
The church is located at place Saint-Maurice near the Thiou river and is easily accessible on foot with visitor information available at the entrance. Visiting outside of service times allows you to explore the interior at your own pace and observe the decorative elements without disruption.
The church is also called "église des Italiens", a reminder of its role as a place of worship for Annecy's Italian community. Its facade copies that of the Gesù church in Rome, the model of Baroque Jesuit architecture. The building has been listed as a monument historique since 1952.
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