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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Saint Francis Church, known as the "Church of the Italians", is a baroque Catholic building built from 1642 in Annecy, Haute-Savoie. Originally the sanctuary of the first monastery of the Order of Visitation Sainte-Marie, founded in 1610, it housed the tombs of Jeanne de Chantal and François de Sales, later transferred to the Basilica of the Visitation. Its façade is directly inspired by that of the Gesù church in Rome, marking its anchor in the Italian Baroque style.

During the French Revolution, the church lost its religious vocation and was transformed into a factory. It did not return to its cultural use until 1923, after more than a century of secular use. A major restoration took place in 2003 to preserve its architectural heritage. The building has been listed as historic monuments since 1952, recognizing its historical and artistic value.

Today, the church of Saint Francis is distinguished by its history linked to the Counter-Reform and Savoyard spirituality of the seventeenth century. Its location in the old town of Annecy, opposite the Isle Palace, makes it a central element of local religious and urban heritage. The protection of its altars and structure bears witness to its importance in the history of sacred art in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

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