- 11 Rue Auguste Comte, 69002 Lyon
- What you see
- What you need to know
Welcome to the Church of Saint Francis de Sales! Built from 1803, this church is dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales, whose house was located nearby. On the current site of the church was once the chapel of Saint Madeleine, which connected the House of the Recluses on the left and the convent of the penitent girls on the right. During the French Revolution, these buildings became the prison of the Recluses, housing more than 1,200 “suspects”, of whom more than 900 were executed.
The construction of the church took place in several stages. The left side nave was completed between 1803 and 1807, followed by the right side nave, the façade, the choir and the dome between 1828 and 1831. The last phase of work, from 1842 to 1847, was directed by the architect Claude-Anthelme Benoit.
This church has a neoclassical style, with Greco-Roman elements such as columns and a pediment. Inside, you can admire a neo-baroque decoration made by the painter Dominique Denuelle.
Among the treasures of this church, you will find a Cavaillé-Coll organ installed in 1890, classified as a historical monument in 1977. Also admire the magnificent monument to the dead of the First World War decorated with mosaics created by Georges Décote.
Don't miss the baptismal font, designed by the architect Louis Jean Sainte-Marie-Perrin in 1900, as well as the starry vaults, the frescoes by Louis Janmot and the chapels dedicated to Saint Joseph and the Virgin, decorated with magnificent works of religious art.
Before you leave, take a look at the Maison Saint-François, recognizable by its bell tower, which is located near the church. This street, which has been named after the son of François I since 1838, is also full of history and curiosities to discover.
The church is included in the inter-parish Catholic grouping Lyon Presqu'Ile Sud, also including the Sainte Croix church, the Basilica of Saint Martin d'Ainay and the Saint François de Sales church.
- Archive images
- Historical monuments
Find on this page a list of organs in Rhône-Alpes protected as historic monuments
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