October, 2012 – Graham Miln

Religious Annecy - The Old

Escaping the rain on our first day ensured we saw inside Annecy’s older churches.

Annecy has quite a history with regard to religion and its role as a seat of religious power. Geneva is close by and Annecy claimed a reactionary anti-reformation stance. The tourist leaflet’s English translation does not quite carry the impact I suspect this history deserves, but the hint was enough; here lies an important religious point on the Roman Catholic map.

Visiting and photographing churches tends to result in a large number of poor quality photos. The lighting is against you and it can be difficult to capture the feel of the building.

What makes it more difficult is that I often struggle to know what church I have photographed. I know the location, the diocese, and the saints. However, church web sites tend to avoid actually naming the churches in the diocese alongside nice photos. This tidbit of information is assumed to be known.

We visited three churches within Annecy’s old town, église Notre Dame de Liesse, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre aux Liens, and église Saint-Maurice.

église Notre Dame de Liesse

église Notre Dame de Liesse
église Notre Dame de Liesse

The lady in question, in gold, adorns the top of the church.
The lady in question, in gold, adorns the top of the church.

The church is home to a beautiful painted dome.
The church is home to a beautiful painted dome.

The dome is impressive but difficult to capture on camera. A central window ensures the surrounding delicate artwork is cast into the shadows. The photo above used a pillar to shield most of the light.

The painted ceiling is delicate and beautiful.
The painted ceiling is delicate and beautiful.

At the back of the church is an imposing scene.
At the back of the church is an imposing scene.

At night the church’s exterior is lit. The result is a visual treat.

The church is lit at night.
The church is lit at night.

The church’s tower lit up at night.

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre aux Liens

Inside Cathédrale Saint-Pierre aux Liens
Inside Cathédrale Saint-Pierre aux Liens

Walking into the cathedral means walking under the organ pipes.
Walking into the cathedral means walking under the organ pipes.

Shrines and plaques line sections of the cathedral’s walls.
Shrines and plaques line sections of the cathedral’s walls.

Plaques to thank the Virgin Mary surround her shrine.
Plaques to thank the Virgin Mary surround her shrine.

The light behind a glass panel in the door caught my eye.
The light behind a glass panel in the door caught my eye.

The cathedral doors are carved wood with a strong grain.
The cathedral doors are carved wood with a strong grain.

église Saint-Maurice

The final church we saw had the most charm. This church, église Saint-Maurice, felt its age. Over time paint had started flaking from the walls, paintings faded, and all around I felt a lack of upkeep compared to its sister establishments in the old town.

église Saint-Maurice
église Saint-Maurice

Inside the once grand église Saint-Maurice
Inside the once grand église Saint-Maurice

A large moribund wall painting near the alter.
A large moribund wall painting near the alter.

A now faded, once colourful, wall painting.
A now faded, once colourful, wall painting.

The ceiling held numerous emblems. Each emblem contained a simple icon denoting a trade or a shield of a once notable family.

An axe emblem embedded in the ceiling.
An axe emblem embedded in the ceiling.

A scissor emblem embedded in the ceiling.
A scissor emblem embedded in the ceiling.

Looking back from the alter of église Saint-Maurice.
Looking back from the alter of église Saint-Maurice.