Church of St. Martin


Vevey is a resort town that inspired with its panoramas outstanding personalities of various epochs, such as Dostoevsky, Gogol, Charlie Chaplin, Hemingway and many others. One of the attractions of the city of Vevey is the old church of St. Martin. It is located next to the necropolis of Sen-Marten in the western part of the canton. The building dates back to 1530. The architecture of the building emphasizes the spirit of the Middle Ages, when the church had more power over people's lives. Thanks to excellent acoustics, various musical events are being held in St. Martin's church. Also in it is a museum of archaeological finds. The temple is built on a mountain terrace, where you can admire the local scenery and the panorama of Lake Geneva .

History and architecture of the church

The Protestant Church of St. Martin in Vevey (originally - Roman Catholic) was built on the site of a ruined church dating back to the 11th century. For such a long period of existence, it was repeatedly repaired and rebuilt, most recently 2 years ago.

The cathedral attracts attention with its majestic view and from a distance it resembles an ancient castle with vaulted windows and stained glass. At night - a fascinating sight. The building of the church is a monumental sacred monument of architecture, built in the Gothic style, is a rectangular building with a central hall, two side galleries and a main altar. The central place in the cathedral is the organ. The dominant architectural detail is the quadrangular tower with belfries on each side. The tower offers a beautiful view of the city, the lake and the Alps .

The church currently does not function for its intended purpose. It holds a Sunday service, and on other days there is a museum of archaeological treasures and organ music concerts are organized.

What can I see next?

For fans of European architecture and art there is a lot of interesting. Orthodoxy and the Russian diaspora left a significant mark in the history of the city. Not far from the church of St. Martin in Vevey is the Orthodox Church of St. Barbara in Slavic style, built in the 19th century. To it you can go down the "chemin de Espérance", the so-called road of Hope. Many emigrants from the 18th and early 20th centuries, such as Shuvalov, Botkin, Trubetskoe princes and others, are buried in the St. Martin cemetery. This is the largest Russian necropolis in Switzerland .

Closer to the embankment is the photography museum, where a collection of photo accessories and photographs is collected, dating back to the 19th century to the present day. If you want to walk on foot to the very heart of the city, Grand-Place Square with its famous Grenet towers, then you can look into the excellent art museum of Musee Jenisch . Arriving in the city in July, do not forget to visit the folklore market on Saturday, which is 2-3 minutes walk from the railway station. In the same area to the convenience of the traveler in the narrow cozy streets there are many hotels and cafes.

How to get to the church of St. Martin in Vevey?

Visit it can be in the tour group or independently. Various agencies offer a variety of excursions , which include a visit to the Church of St. Martin in Vevey. There is a cathedral in 20 minutes of walking from the railway station on which arrive both suburban, and long-distance trains. The bus stop Vevey Ronjat (routes №201, 202) is located from the temple at the same distance as the station.