Description of the attraction
The French Church in Bern, located at 8 Seghausgasse, is Protestant. It was built in the last two decades of the 13th century by a community of Dominican monks who have lived in Bern since 1269. This church was originally dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. Around 1450, the arch separating the nave from the choir was decorated with an impressive fresco depicting the Last Judgment. It was restored during the reconstruction of the temple in 1991. At the end of the 15th century, the temple was painted by a Bernese artist, who left a carnation drawing instead of a signature.
The French Church is the oldest temple in Bern. For a long time, before the construction of the Berne Cathedral, it was considered the main city church. Many famous people of that time attended services here.
Hard times came for the French Church during the Reformation, when the Dominicans were forced to leave their monastery complex. The temple was first converted into a hospital, and in 1534 the choir was converted into a granary. For about a century, the temple was not used for its intended purpose. The first services after so many years of oblivion took place here in 1623. Moreover, they sounded in French. Until now, the temple belongs to the Reformed parish, whose members speak French. This explains the name of this church.
On the south wall of the monastery were frescoes painted by the artist Nicolas Manuel in 1520. The painter depicted the Dance of Death - a very popular plot at that time. The painting turned out to be irretrievably lost when the monastery wall was destroyed in 1660.
Due to its exceptional acoustics, the nave of the church is also used for numerous concerts.
