Katholische Kirche St. Luzius und Florinus

The Catholic Church of St. Luzius and Florinus (Pfarrkirche St. Luzius und Florinus) is the parish church of Walenstadt, a small town in the canton of St. Gallen at the eastern end of Lake Walen. Its history reaches back to the early Middle Ages, and parts of its fabric are roughly a thousand years old.

How old is the church?

The earliest written mention comes from the Rhaetian royal estate register (churrätisches Reichsgutsurbar) of 842/843. Excavations, however, show that an even older place of worship stood on the site, dated to the Merovingian period. The site is listed in the canton's archaeological inventory.

In 1045 King Henry III confirmed Schänis Abbey as owner. According to the sources, the church passed to Pfäfers Abbey during the 11th century, and Pfäfers kept the patronage right until the abbey was dissolved in 1838. A parish priest (Leutpriester) is recorded around 1243. The present church was consecrated in 1306, and the nave and tower from the 11th century were kept as part of it.

Who were Luzius and Florinus?

Both saints are patrons linked to old Rhaetia, the region spanning today's Graubünden and St. Gallen. They give the parish its name, and the parish community (Kirchgemeinde) was formally founded in 1837. During the Reformation Walenstadt stayed Catholic, even though the local priest Balthasar Vögeli and his brother Kaspar argued for reform.

What will you see?

The main draw is the building itself, with a tower and nave that have survived since the 11th century. It suits visitors interested in Swiss religious history: traces from the Merovingian, Carolingian and late medieval periods meet in a single site. For a deeper dive, look for Paul Gubser's monograph "St. Luzius und Florin, Walenstadt" (1987) and volume 1 of the Kunstdenkmäler des Kantons St. Gallen (1951).

How do you get there?

The church stands in Walenstadt itself (about 47.125 N, 9.318 E). The town has a railway station on the line along Lake Walen, so the trip from Zurich or Chur by train is easy, and the centre is a walk from the station. A visit pairs well with a stroll by the lake.

When is the best time to visit?

This is a working parish church, so go outside service times and keep noise down. The lakeside is most pleasant from late spring to early autumn, but the church can be visited year-round.

Frequently asked questions

Which century does the church date from?

The present building was consecrated in 1306, but the nave and tower date to the 11th century. An earlier church on the site goes back to Merovingian times.

When is the church first mentioned in writing?

In the Rhaetian royal estate register of 842/843.

Who held the patronage of the church?

Pfäfers Abbey, until it was dissolved in 1838.

Did Walenstadt adopt the Reformation?

No. Despite support from the priest Balthasar Vögeli and his brother Kaspar, the town remained Catholic.