As the Paris attacks and anti-Islam Pegida marches in Germany have spread division and fear among followers of different faiths in Europe, a revolutionary project in Switzerland is uniting eight religions.

The Haus der Religionen (House of Religions) in Bern houses a Christian church, Hindu temple, Buddhist centre, Alevi cemevi and soon, a mosque.

The five private religious spaces open into a shared “dialogue room” where members of different faiths eat, meet and hold events for the community.

Baha'i, Jewish and Sikh representatives are also part of the Haus, which started as a small group’s dream a decade ago and opened in a purpose-built building in December.

The opening of the Hindu temple in the Haus der Religionen, Bern (Haus der Religionen)

While there are other multi-faith centres around the world, the Haus der Religionen is ground-breaking in its scale – five purpose-built homes for five religions. The decorators for the Hindu temple were flown in from India.

If numbers are anything to go by, it is already a resounding success.

An estimated 10,000 people turned up on its opening day and tours are fully booked until the end of April.

Guido Albisetti, president of the foundation behind the Haus, told The Independent its founders had been “overwhelmed” by the support.

“People were queuing outside in the snow for 45 minutes to get in in the freezing weather – we were overflowing,” he added.

The Swiss flag being raised at the opening of the Haus der Religionen, in Bern (Haus der Religionen)

The reception was not always so positive. Before the building was constructed in October, vandals broke into the Muslim association planning their new mosque in the Haus, destroyed plans and defaced a picture of the Imam.

Mr Albisetti, 62, said the Muslim community in Bern was the only one out of the eight religions to meet internal opposition to involvement with the Haus der Religionen.

“Our imam is very liberal and very strong-minded,” he added. “More conservative groups had a problem with him.”

But that did not stop the Bern Muslim Association’s involvement with the project and their mosque is due to open in March.

The imam, Mustafa Memeti, has just been named Swiss of the Year by the newspaper SonntagsZeitung for “his courage and his engagement in the most explosive debate of our time”.

The opening of the Hindu temple at the Haus der Religionen, in Bern (Haus der Religionen)

Also the head of the Albanian Islamic Association of Switzerland, he is known for his vocal support for integration and emphasises that Muslims can be Swiss citizens without losing their identity or religion.

Mr Albisetti, who said he believes in god but does not attend a particular church, said Mr Memeti’s stance has become even more vital after the Paris attacks.

“He’s trying to find a way that Muslims and all other Swiss religious people live together in a peaceful way.”

In the wake of the massacre at Charlie Hebdo, the Haus issued a joint statement simply titled “je suis Charlie”, calling for “compassion and dialogue” to overpower hatred and fear.

“When Anders Breivik massacred 77 young people to ‘save the Christian West’ in Norway, no one blamed the whole of Christianity for it, along with their churches and followers in Switzerland,” it said.

“But now, Muslims in our country have to justify themselves after the Paris attacks because some people suspect they are involved.”

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Show all 39 1 /39 In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Pencils, representing the freedom of expression, placed in tribute in Nantes Reuters In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack France's Jason Lamy Chappuis soars through the air over a message that reads "Je suis Charlie" Getty In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Solidarity in Nice AP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Turkish citizens organised a vigil in front of the French consulate in Istanbul AFP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Graffiti decorates a London wall in solidarity with the victims of the attack in Paris AFP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A tribute of flowers and candles outside the French Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic AP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Messages of sympathy near the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris AFP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Workers install a poster reading 'Je suis Charlie' (I am Charlie) on the Palais des Festivals facade in Cannes In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A woman looks at floral tributes left outside the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices in Paris In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A woman places flowers near the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Journalists of international press agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) hold signs reading "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) at their headquarters in Paris as they observe a minute of silence for the victims of an attack by armed gunmen on the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris which left at least 12 dead and many others injured In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Pens and pencils are placed in the form of a peace sign over the names of late French cartoonists Cabu, Tignous, Wolinski and late Charlie Hebdo editor Charb on the Place de la Republique (Republic Square) in Paris In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Australia mourns victims of the Paris massacre at Federation Square in Melbourne In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Indian artist Sudarsan Pattnaik is pictured with his sand sculpture, in tribute of those who lost their lives in the attack by gunmen on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris that killed 12 people, at Golden Sea Beach in Puri, some 65 kilometers from Bhubaneswar In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A man holds a placard that reads "I am Charlie" as members of the European Parliament and citizens gather during a minute of silence for victims of the shooting at the Paris offices of weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in front of the EU Parliament in Brussels In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A painting of the 'Marianne', the national symbol of the French Republic is placed between candles to commemorate the victims killed in an attack at the Paris offices of the weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in front of the French Embassy in Berlin In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Pencils and flowers of condolance are placed at the French embassy at Pariser Platz in Berlin In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Mourners hold signs depicting victim's eyes during a rally in support of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical weekly newspaper that fell victim to an terrorist attack, at Union Square in New York In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People hold up placards reading 'I am Charlie' during a gathering in Nice Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A man lights candles set near the portrait of three of the four cartoonists killed, in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A man holds the French national flag tied a black ribbon as he and others gather in Lyon to pay their respects Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Parisians gather to pay respect for the victims of a terror attack against 'Charlie Hebdo' Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People gather in front of the 'Club de la presse' in Montpellier, to show their solidarity for the victims of the attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo' Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A drawing depicting cartoonist Jean Cabut, left, Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier, center, and cartoonist Georges Wolinski, is placed outside the French Embassy in Berlin, Germany. The message reads 'Victims of their success, R.I.P.' AP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A woman lays a candle during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People take part in a vigil in Trafalgar Square, London, following the deadly terror attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris PA In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People light candles forming the name Charlie during a gathering in Strasbourg, eastern France Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People stand stand in Marseille, southern France, next to a portrait of French cartoonist Georges Wolinksi, killed during an attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo' Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People hold placards reading in French 'I am Charlie' during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A man holds a placard reading 'With all our heart with Charlie Hebdo, Freedom of the press: Our freedom' during a gathering in Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack The French and European union flags fly at half-mast at the French Embassy in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People gather at the Place Royale in Nantes to show their solidarity for the victims of the attack in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Flowers, candles and a sign reading 'I am Charlie' are placed against a wall during a demonstration in Paris AP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Journalism students hold a banner reading in French: 'Journalism students : Solidarity' as they raise pens during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People gather for a rally in solidarity with the killed Charlie Hebdo employees, in Geneva, Switzerland EPA In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A man holds a placard reading: 'Freedom of the press is priceless, fundamentalism, of any kind, will not pass' as others hold up placards reading in French, 'I am Charlie' during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Journalists raise their press cards as others hold up pens during a gathering at the Place de la Republique, following the terrorist attack on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo' Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People hold candles at a rally in support of the victims of Wednesday's terrorist attack, at the Place de la Republique in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People gather in front of the city hall of Rennes, western France, following the attack in Paris Getty Images

But the Haus is fostering acceptance and interaction, hosting visits by schools and groups from all over Switzerland and beyond as well as regular language classes and events.

Bern is a diverse place – more than a third of the city’s population are foreign-born, mostly European workers, and although most residents belong to the Swiss Reformed Church, there are thousands of Muslims, Hindus and people of numerous other faiths.

At the opening of the Haus, a Jewish representative read an extract from the Torah before giving the stage to a Muslim who read from the Koran.

Bern, the capital of Switzerland (Andrey Anisimov / Alamy)

Mr Albisetti said the scene was a far cry from what he had seen in Jerusalem, where Christian, Muslim and Jewish holy places are crowded together but deeply divided – “the example of what we don’t want”.

“We’re trying to explain to everyone that we accept all religions here as long as it’s peaceful,” he added.

“Anyone is welcome in this country as long as they accept everyone else.”

Many of those involved in the Haus have been working together for years, moving from place to place until the dream of having their own premises was made a reality with 15 million Swiss Francs (£10.6 million) of funding.

It is housed in a much larger building containing flats, shops and restaurants in a large square.

“The idea was to put this in the middle of life – not stand it alone like St Peter’s in Rome,” Mr Albisetti said. “The religions have to life in life.”

The 62-year-old still works as a private banker and after years working towards the Haus der Religionen, will be joining its other directors to hand it over to another generation next year.

“We are very fortunate in life. We have good jobs, we have the chance to live in the country where we were born and we just wanted to give something to those people who are not so lucky,” he said.