Église Saints-Pierre-et-Paul de Satigny

The Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Satigny (French: Église catholique Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul) is the Roman Catholic parish church of Satigny, a wine-growing municipality in the canton of Geneva. It was built in 1903 and belongs to the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg. It makes an easy stop on a trip through the vineyards northwest of Geneva.

When was the church built, and why does it matter?

The church dates from 1903, which is recent by local standards. After the Reformation the village's religious life centred on the Protestant parish, founded in 1538, so the Catholic community here has a much shorter architectural history. The dedication is to the apostles Peter and Paul. Local historian Pierre Bertrand wrote a monograph on the building, published by the parish in 1978, and the 1998 book "Satigny de jadis à naguère" devotes a chapter to it.

What can you see inside and around it?

• Stained glass. A window in the nave shows Saint Eligius (Éloi) and is dated 1903. The Swiss stained-glass database Vitrosearch tentatively attributes it to the Geneva workshop Enneveux and Bonnet.
• Early twentieth-century church architecture. The building represents the parish churches of French-speaking Switzerland from the turn of the century, a clear contrast to the region's medieval sanctuaries.
• Wine country setting. Satigny has one of the largest vineyard areas of any Swiss municipality and its own wine cooperative.

What else is there to see in Satigny?

Do not confuse the church with the Protestant Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens temple. That much older building follows a Gothic plan and replaced a twelfth-century church; its classical nave and small bell turret were added in 1726-1728. The municipality also has the Moulin-Fabry mill, first mentioned in 1328, and the presbytery of 1716-1717, built on the site of a very old priory of Augustinian canons.

How do you get there?

Satigny lies a short drive from central Geneva, and a railway line opened in 1858 passes through the municipality. Check a public-transport planner for current bus and train connections. The church sits at roughly 46.2135 N, 6.0355 E.

When is the best time to visit?

Early autumn, during the grape harvest, and late spring, when the vines are green, are the best seasons. The interior is easiest to see during services; at other times access depends on the parish, so ask the local parish or the municipal office about opening hours.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Catholic church in Satigny built? In 1903.

Is it the church with the small bell turret from the 1700s? No. The nave and turret of 1726-1728 belong to the Protestant Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens. The church of Saints Peter and Paul is a separate Catholic building.

Which diocese does the parish belong to? The Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, in the Roman rite.

Where can I read more about its history? In Pierre Bertrand's 1978 monograph and in "Satigny de jadis à naguère" (1998).