Saint-Martin Reformed Church

Saint-Martin Church in Vevey (French: Église Saint-Martin, also called Temple Saint-Martin) is a Reformed parish church standing on a hill above the town of Vevey, in the canton of Vaud. Its tower with corner turrets is one of the most recognisable features of the Vevey skyline above Lake Geneva, and the building is listed in the Swiss inventory of cultural property as a site of national importance.

What makes this church special?

The church sits outside the walls of the old medieval town, on a terrace that was occupied long before the present building existed. Excavations uncovered early medieval burials beneath it, and a Celtic necropolis has been found nearby. According to the heritage inventory, a first church may date to around the year 1000. A Gothic chancel replaced the Romanesque apse in the late 13th or early 14th century, and the church was rebuilt from 1496. With the Reformation it passed to the Protestants, and it still serves a Reformed congregation.

What will you see?

Outside, the main feature is the late Gothic porch-tower crowned with turrets at its corners. Inside, the late Gothic interior has columns without capitals and star-shaped keystones in the vaulting. A cemetery surrounds the church, and records from 1871 mention repairs to the main portal and the building of a cemetery gate.

The hill has long been a viewpoint: prints from the first half of the 19th century show Vevey seen from Saint-Martin with the lake behind. It is still a good place to look down over the town and see how it spreads between the shore and the vineyard slopes.

How did the building change over time?

The church went through several restorations. Work around the turn of the 20th century ended, according to the cantonal archives, with a campaign led by the architect Nicati that finished in 1920. Late in the 20th century a full renovation was accompanied by archaeological digs, which shed light on the earliest phases of the site.

How do you get there?

The church is at Rue des Communaux 10, in the upper part of Vevey above the centre and the lakefront. From the railway station it is a walk of roughly fifteen minutes uphill through the town's streets. It combines well with a stroll through the old town and along the waterfront.

When should you visit?

Clear afternoons give the best light over the town and lake. Because this is a working parish church, check opening times for the interior with the parish or the Vevey Montreux tourist office before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Is Saint-Martin in Vevey a Protestant church?

Yes. It became a Reformed church after the Reformation and remains the parish church of that community.

What period is the building from?

The present church is mainly late Gothic, rebuilt from 1496, but the site was in use far earlier. The oldest traces are early medieval graves.

Is there a cemetery next to the church?

Yes, a cemetery surrounds the church, and 19th-century records mention its gate.

Is it a protected monument?

Yes. It is listed in the Swiss inventory of cultural property as a site of national importance.