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About this place
Sainte-Trinité Church (Église de la Sainte-Trinité) in Geneva is a Catholic church finished in 1994, shaped like a giant globe clad in pink granite. It stands at rue Ferrier 16 (1202 Geneva), north of the city centre near the Sécheron area, and anyone can walk in for free.
What makes this church unusual?
Instead of a nave and a spire, the building is a sphere roughly 20 metres across, faced with pink granite. The architect, Ugo Brunoni, meant the form to express the communion of the Holy Trinity, and the whole structure reads as a globe resting on water, a sign of life. Four glass pyramids rise above the stone, and twelve rainbow-coloured openings in the upper part let daylight pour inside.
The church was inaugurated in 1994 and is regarded as the last Roman Catholic church built in the Geneva area. A separate chapel stands next to the main building.
What is the parish's history?
A parish of the Most Holy Trinity already existed in Geneva in 1931, when the Notre-Dame parish spun off a young community. Its first chapel occupied a former industrial building in the Sécheron district. The modern church later gave that community a permanent home.
How do you visit?
Entry is free. Opening hours differ by day and season, so check the parish page on cath-ge.ch before going. Masses in the church are held on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and the chapel is used for prayer on weekdays too. During services, keep to a quiet look around the entrance area.
Good to know
- The church is not on the canton's list of fifteen major places of worship from the second half of the 20th century, although it comes from the same period.
- Do not confuse it with the Russian Orthodox church in the Tranchées district or with other churches of the same name. Look for rue Ferrier 16.
- Daytime is best for photos, when light brings out the granite and the glass pyramids.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entrance fee? No, admission is free.
Who designed the church? Architect Ugo Brunoni; it opened in 1994.
What does it look like? A pink granite sphere about 20 metres in diameter, with four glass pyramids and twelve rainbow-coloured light openings.
Is it a Catholic church? Yes, it is Roman Catholic and belongs to the Catholic Church in Geneva.
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