The Temple de la Fusterie stands proudly on Place de la Fusterie in the heart of Geneva’s Old Town. It’s a beautiful building, a testament to the city’s rich history and the enduring influence of the Protestant Reformation. This church was built for a specific purpose, a sanctuary for the Huguenot refugees fleeing France in the 17th century. It stands as the very first religious site in Geneva specifically built for Calvinist worship. This wasn’t the first church in Geneva, though. The city was founded by Catholics, but Calvinist followers had been meeting in churches that were converted from Catholic use since the Reformation. This is what makes Temple de la Fusterie so unique, as it was built from scratch for the Calvinist faith. It was designed by French architect Jean Vennes, inspired by a church in Charenton-le-Pont, a suburb of Paris.
The temple was built in a late Baroque style, with a clock tower atop its main facade. The interior is modest and understated. The organ loft of the detached pulpit is the visual focal point of the room. It’s said to have impressive acoustics. The church serves as a concert hall today.
The name ‘Fusterie’ comes from the ‘fustiers’, a term referring to the shipwrights who had to vacate their workspace to make way for the construction of the church. The Temple de la Fusterie tells a story of faith, perseverance, and the architectural beauty that can be found in unexpected places. It’s a place to be cherished, a reminder of the resilience of the Huguenot refugees who called this temple their home.