The most beautiful religious buildings Romandy

It is the main work of Jean-François Reyff. A fine late-Gothic building with early-Baroque and Renaissance elements dating from 1653-1656, the church features Switzerland's first Baroque curvilinear façade and a beautiful octagonal dome. Inside, the sculpted decor of the ^17th and ^19th centuries can be admired in many places, while the sacristy boasts a number of fine pieces of silverware. The monastery buildings feature handsome ^17th-century facades.

The 13th-century monastery has been a state building since 1916, but St. Maurice's church has been a parish church since 1872. See the stained glass windows by Aloys Balmer dating from 1896 and the magnificent altarpiece by Peter Spring from 1593 from the Mannerist period. Also the liturgical furniture with late Gothic sculptures from Fribourg and two altarpieces from the Reyff workshop from the 17th century. In the monastery, the ceiling of the refectory was painted in 1748 by Melchior Eggmann.

Elevated to the status of basilica minor in 1932 by Pope Pius XI, this church dates back to 1201, but was completely remodeled at the end of the ^18th century by the Berchtold brothers, with paintings by Gottfried Locher. A major restoration, completed in 2011, has brought many of the works to the fore. The Neapolitan crib on display near the entrance is unique. It features 75 figurines, the oldest dating back to the ^18th century. Scenes from everyday life are depicted on the right: a tavern, a market and even courtesans on the balcony.

The Rabten Choeling Center is also called the Center for Tibetan Studies. Perched at an altitude of 820 m, this Tibetan centre of 55 monks, founded in 1977, opens its meditation space to the public. Daily prayers are recited in the morning at 7am and in the evening at 6pm, Monday to Friday. Other more elaborate prayers also take place according to the events, and visitors are welcome for each celebration. It is also possible to stay at the house.

This basilica is the main sanctuary of the city's Roman Catholic Church. It was built between 1852 and 1857 on the bastion of Cornavin. It is inspired by the great Gothic cathedrals of the 13th century, such as those of Beauvais or Amiens. It is however built in molasse. Inside, you can admire, in the central chapel of the ambulatory, a statue of the Virgin, offered to the Catholics of the city in 1860 by Pope Pius IX. It is a stage of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

Today a Protestant temple, Saint-François was originally a convent. Built around 1270 by Franciscan monks from Besançon, they are the ones who contributed to the extension of the vineyards of Lavaux. The upper parts date back to 1370-1387 and the bell tower, 56 m high, around 1400. Inside, the pews are reversible (ingenious system of rocking backrests), to listen to both mass and the magnificent organ concerts in April and November. Note that the vaults of the choir have a painted decoration of false joints, white on a beige background.

The hermitage and chapel of Saint-Ursanne are located in the town of Saint-Ursanne. Legend has it that an Irish monk named Saint Ursanne lived in a cave overlooking the Doubs River over 1400 years ago. To reach the hermitage, climb the 200-odd steps of the stone staircase to the north of the collegiate church. The enclosed grotto features a statue of the sleeping hermit and a young bear. Two monuments mark the site of the hermitage: a post-Gothic chapel rebuilt some 400 years ago and a more recent stone cross. From the hermitage, you can enjoy a lovely panoramic view over the Doubs valley.

The Saint-Marcel church is located in the town of Delémont. It was recently renovated and inaugurated. The church is part of the Saints-Pierre-et-Paul pastoral unit, which groups together several canonical parishes in the region. Saint-Marcel Church offers a variety of sacraments and life paths for the faithful. It is open to the public and welcomes French-speaking Catholics from the Basel diocese. Saint-Marcel church is an important place of worship for Delémont's Catholic community, offering a space for meditation and prayer.

The former Jesuit church in Porrentruy is a historic place of worship well worth a visit. Now used as a cathedral, basilica and chapel, it is an impressive example of the region's religious architecture.