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About this place
Église catholique de Peseux (Catholic Church of Peseux) is a post-war church in Peseux, now a district of Neuchâtel in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel. Dedicated to Notre-Dame de Compassion, it stands as a good example of 1950s Swiss religious architecture.
Who designed the church, and when?
The design came out of an architectural competition won by Beate and Maurice Billeter, a married couple of Neuchâtel architects. Earlier schemes, among them a 1943 proposal by Dumas and Honegger, were dropped. Construction ran from 1953 to 1954, and the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland gives 1954 as the year of consecration. The bell tower followed in 1955.
What is there to see?
The building is plainly modernist, free of period ornament, reflecting the renewal of church building in French-speaking Switzerland after the war. Inside, stained glass by the Swiss painter Coghuf dates from 1970, and an organ was installed in 1972. The church was among the sites highlighted for the 2025 European Heritage Days in the canton.
How does it fit the history of Peseux?
For a long time the village depended spiritually on Serrières. It formed its own Catholic parish in 1882. Today's parish carries the same name as the church, Notre-Dame de Compassion, and belongs to the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg. Peseux was an independent municipality until it merged into Neuchâtel in 2021, so you will see both names on maps and signs.
How do you get there?
The church is in Peseux, west of central Neuchâtel, close to 46.985 N, 6.888 E. The easiest way is a local bus from the city centre towards Peseux, or a short drive. Check the parish website for the nearest stop and opening times before you go.
When is the best time to visit?
Go during the day, when light passes through Coghuf's windows. Access outside services depends on the parish, so confirm in advance. European Heritage Days are a good occasion, since 20th-century buildings are often opened more widely then.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a historic church? It dates from the 1950s and is valued as a notable piece of modernist religious architecture in the region.
Who designed the church in Peseux? Beate and Maurice Billeter, Neuchâtel architects who won the competition.
When was it built? Between 1953 and 1954, consecrated in 1954, with the tower added in 1955.
Is Peseux a separate town? No. Since 2021 it has been part of the municipality of Neuchâtel.
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