The Church of Saint-François-de-Sales stands on the bank of the Thiou canal in Annecy's old town, its pale Baroque façade reflected in the water. It was built from 1642 as the chapel of the first convent of the Visitation, the order founded in Annecy by Francis de Sales and Jane Frances de Chantal, and it held the tombs of both saints until the French Revolution. Locals call it the église des Italiens, the Italians' church, because it has served Annecy's Italian community since 1923.
Saint-François-de-Sales Church at a glance
- Where: Place Saint-François-de-Sales, on the Thiou canal at the edge of the old town, a short walk from the Palais de l'Île and Saint-Pierre Cathedral.
- Built: from 1642, as the chapel of the first Visitation monastery; returned to worship in 1888.
- What it is today: a Catholic church owned by the city of Annecy since 1968, used by the Italian community, with Mass sometimes said in Italian.
- Time needed: 10–20 minutes inside; longer if you combine it with a walk along the canals.
From convent chapel to the Italians' church
Francis de Sales was Bishop of Geneva, but because Geneva had become Calvinist he lived and worked in Annecy, then a town of the Duchy of Savoy. In 1610 he and Jane Frances de Chantal founded the Order of the Visitation here, a community of nuns devoted to prayer and care for the sick. In 1612 the sisters moved into buildings inside the town walls, the first Visitation monastery. Francis de Sales died in 1622 and Jane de Chantal in 1641, and both were buried in the convent. From 1642 the chapel was rebuilt to house their tombs, and pilgrims, among them members of royal families, came to Annecy to pray at them. Francis was canonised in 1665 and Jane in 1767.
The Revolution ended all that. The convent was sold as national property, the church was nearly destroyed, and it served as a barracks and a workshop making canvas. The relics of the two saints were moved, and they now lie in the Basilica of the Visitation on the hillside above the town. In the late 19th century the church was restored and it reopened for worship in 1888. In 1923 it was given to Annecy's Italian community, and the city of Annecy bought it in 1968. The Italian link runs deep: Annecy belonged to the House of Savoy, whose capital was Turin, until 1860.
What to look for
- The façade: two storeys linked by curved volutes and topped by a triangular pediment, a design inspired by the Gesù church in Rome.
- The reflection: stand on the footbridge or the opposite quay to see the façade mirrored in the Thiou, one of the classic views of old Annecy.
- The seven Baroque altarpieces in the side chapels, which give the interior far more colour than the plain exterior suggests.
- The high altarpiece, rebuilt in 1889 by Giuseppe Giannina from a lost original.
The patron saint of journalists
Before he was bishop, Francis de Sales spent several years trying to win the Chablais, the region south of Lake Geneva, back to Catholicism. When people would not come to hear him preach, he wrote short pamphlets and had them slipped under doors and posted on walls. Because of this, Pope Pius XI declared him the patron saint of writers and journalists in 1923. His feast day is 24 January. Annecy also remembers him as a writer: his 'Introduction to the Devout Life', published in 1609, was one of the most widely read spiritual books of its century.
Tips for your visit
- Come in the morning for soft light on the façade and quieter quays; by afternoon the canal side of the old town fills with visitors.
- Dress and behave as you would for any working church: Mass is celebrated here, sometimes in Italian.
- Combine the visit with the Basilica of the Visitation, where the saints now rest: it's uphill from the old town, so go on foot if you like a climb or take a taxi or bus.
Nearby
- Palais de l'Île: the 12th-century stone house shaped like a ship's prow in the middle of the Thiou, once a prison, a few minutes' walk away.
- Saint-Pierre Cathedral: the 16th-century church round the corner that served the exiled bishops of Geneva, Francis de Sales among them.
- Pont des Amours: the green iron footbridge over the Vassé canal by the lake, a short walk east, with views of the mountains.
- Rue Sainte-Claire: the arcaded old street of Annecy, lined with shops and cafés, a few minutes' walk away.
See Annecy with World City Trail
Our Annecy scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 18 minutes of walking. It includes the Palais de l'Île, Saint-Pierre Cathedral and the Pont des Amours.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Annecy.
Play the Annecy scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Annecy →
Play the outdoor escape game in Annecy →
Facts checked in October 2026.