St. Pierre Cathedral in Geneva: new audio guides to showcase a living heritage

St. Pierre Cathedral is not only one of Geneva's most emblematic monuments: it remains above all a place of worship, whose influence extends far beyond the city's borders and which welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every year, tourists and pilgrims alike.

To preserve this heritage and open it to the public, its conservation and upkeep are entrusted to the Fondation des Clefs de St-Pierre, created in 1973 by the Protestant Church of Geneva and the Saint-Pierre-Fusterie parish.

The Fondation des Clefs de St-Pierre, guardian of the sanctuary

Since its creation, the Foundation has carried out extensive restoration campaigns, notably at the end of the 20th century. Today it oversees the ongoing conservation of the building and its annexes, from heating to cleaning, as well as managing the custodians and the opening of the towers and the archaeological site.

A modernized visit system

Within this framework, the cathedral has installed 40 A-Guide Smart audio guides. These devices operate in semi-automatic mode: visitors trigger the commentary by entering the number shown on a panel or near a point of interest. This simple, intuitive system lets everyone proceed at their own pace while keeping the flow of visits smooth. The circuit lasts around 45 minutes and is offered in six languages.

To enrich the experience, six audiovisual synchronizations have been integrated into the route. At certain points, the audio guide coordinates with videos and projections, creating a livelier, more immersive form of interpretation.

Inspiration from Payerne

The choice of this system was no accident. The Foundation had discovered the A-Guide Smart during a visit to Payerne Abbey. Convinced by the reliability and ease of use of this manually triggered system, it decided to adopt it for Geneva.

A heritage to preserve and pass on

Thanks to this modernization, St. Pierre Cathedral in Geneva now offers a clear, accessible visit that combines rich audio, visual media and freedom of pace. The Fondation des Clefs de St-Pierre thereby confirms its mission: protecting a historic and spiritual sanctuary while keeping it alive and comprehensible for today's visitors.