Temple of Cologny

Temple de Cologny (Temple of Cologny) is the Protestant parish church of Cologny, an affluent municipality in the canton of Geneva on the left bank of Lake Geneva. It stands at 2 Place Pierre-Gautier in the village centre, a few kilometres from downtown Geneva.

What is it, and when was it built?

The present church dates from 1709. It replaced an older place of worship dedicated to Saint Peter (Saint-Pierre), recorded as early as 1344. The parish adopted the Reformation in 1536, which is why this is a Reformed church. In French-speaking Switzerland such buildings are called a "temple" rather than an "église".

The parish itself has a changeable history. According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, it was joined with Vandœuvres in 1406 and regained independence in 1727. Until 1831 it also covered the Eaux-Vives district, which later split off.

What will you see?

The building has a simple rectangular plan and a gabled front with two round-arched windows. A clock is crowned by a bell tower added in 1842, and the church was restored between 1904 and 1906.

On the forecourt you will find five mosaics, made by Marguerite Naville together with the Gruppo Mosaicisti of the Ravenna Academy of Fine Arts. They are an unexpected touch against plain Reformed architecture and a good reason to pause on the square.

How do you get there, and when should you go?

Cologny sits on a hillside above the lake, east of central Geneva. A car or city bus from the centre takes around fifteen minutes; check the TPG timetable for exact connections. Access to the interior depends on service times and parish events, so the exterior and mosaics can be seen at any hour, while a visit inside is best planned after checking dates on the Protestant Church of Geneva parish page.

What else is nearby?

Cologny has strong literary associations. Lord Byron stayed by the lake nearby in 1816, and in 1924, on the centenary of his death, the municipality unveiled a monument to him. It stands on the upper communal meadow, not at the church, but a walk from one to the other makes a pleasant outing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Temple de Cologny the same building as the Saint-Pierre church? The earlier church was dedicated to Saint Peter and existed by the 14th century. The current 1709 building stands on that site and replaced it.

Is it a Catholic church? No. The parish has been Protestant since the Reformation in 1536 and belongs to the Protestant Church of Geneva.

Where exactly is it? At 2 Place Pierre-Gautier in Cologny, canton of Geneva, at roughly 46.216 N, 6.181 E.

Is the Byron monument next to the church? No. The 1924 monument to the poet is on the upper communal meadow, in another part of Cologny.