Marienkirche

Marienkirche in Oberbuchsiten is the Catholic parish church of Oberbuchsiten, a village in the Gäu district of the Swiss canton of Solothurn. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it stands in the village centre at the southern foot of the Jura and is listed as a cantonal heritage monument.

What is the history of the church?

Records mention the church's patronage as early as 1201, and in 1420 the right passed to the city of Solothurn. A fire in 1506 destroyed the building, and the villagers rebuilt it, with consecration in 1520. That late-medieval church stood until 1937, when it was pulled down. Solothurn architect Otto Sperisen designed the replacement on the same site. One older element survives: the bell tower dating from 1578, which was incorporated into the new church.

What can you see?

Much of the furnishing was carried over from the earlier church. Most pieces date from the early 19th century, with a few from the 1700s. The parish also worked on re-creating a ceiling painting of the Assumption of Mary, which had been removed in 1967. The exterior was restored in 1991, the canton co-funded another exterior restoration in 2008, and the interior was renovated in spring 2009.

What else is there in Oberbuchsiten?

The village sits on the alluvial fan of the Mülibach stream. Finds here include Bronze Age settlement traces, Hallstatt-period graves and a Roman estate with a cemetery of about 150 graves. The name appears in records in the 11th century. Solothurn took control in 1463, after earlier rule by the Bishop of Basel and by Bern. About 1,840 people lived here in 2000.

Nearby you can also visit the 1637 chapel at the Schälismühle mill, restored in 2008, and the old toll house on the road over the Buchsiter Berg.

How do you get there?

The Gäubahn line has served the village since 1876, linking Olten and Solothurn, and regional trains from Olten take a short ride. By car, the Härkingen motorway junction is right nearby. The church is in the village centre, at roughly 47.3116 N, 7.7658 E.

When should you visit?

Come during the day, outside service times. This is a working parish church, so sightseeing during Mass is not appropriate. Spring and early autumn suit walks on the Jura slopes above the village.

Frequently asked questions

Is the present church medieval? No. The building dates from 1937. Only the 1578 bell tower and part of the furnishings come from the older church.

Who designed it? Otto Sperisen, an architect from Solothurn.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, it is under heritage protection in the canton of Solothurn.

Is it the only historic religious site in the village? No. The 1637 Schälismühle chapel is close by.