Jesuit Church

The Jesuit Church stands on the south bank of the Reuss opposite the old town, its twin towers framing the riverside view. Built between 1666 and 1677 for the Jesuit order, it was the first large-scale Baroque church in the Swiss Confederation — and the contrast with the restrained Protestant architecture across the river is immediate and intentional.

The interior is extraordinary. Stucco work by the school of Feuchtmayer covers every surface in shades of pink, grey, and white, building to an elaborate ceiling fresco above the nave. The side altars and confessionals are equally elaborate. Entry is free and the church is open throughout the day; for the best light, visit in the morning.

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A story
The Jesuit Church was the first large Baroque church built in Switzerland, completed in 1677. Its interior was plain and whitewashed until 1749–1754, when the Augsburg stucco artist Joseph Anton Feuchtmayer's workshop transformed it into the pink-and-white confection that fills visitors with surprise today. The ceiling frescoes by Johann Kaspar Moos were added even later, in 1806. The result is a building that grew more elaborate with each generation.

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