Pfarrkirche St. Joseph

The parish church of St. Joseph (Pfarrkirche St. Josef) sits in Gänsbrunnen, a village in the Swiss canton of Solothurn that has formed the municipality of Welschenrohr-Gänsbrunnen with its neighbour since 2021. Built between 1626 and 1628, it is one of the older churches in this corner of the Thal valley and appears on the canton's list of protected monuments.

What is the history of the church?

The Solothurn government ordered construction in 1626, and Hans Jakob vom Staal led the work. The church was meant to strengthen the Catholic presence in an area where officials feared the spread of Anabaptism. The chosen spot lies on the northern flank of the Thal, close to the gorge where the Raus river cuts through the second Jura ridge. The result was a plain building still using late Gothic forms. Johannes Bernardus, auxiliary bishop of Basel, consecrated it on 19 October 1628, and an inscription on the chancel arch records the date.

It began life as a chapel of St. Joseph and became a full parish church in 1720. The village's former French name, Saint-Joseph, comes from the same patron.

How has it changed over time?

The nave was enlarged as early as 1697, when a gallery and two side altars were added. The interior received a Biedermeier-style refresh in the 19th century and was redesigned again in 1927–1930. The most recent major restoration ran in two stages in 2012–2013, improving the indoor climate and conserving the furnishings. The rededication took place on 25 August 2013, and in 2014 the parish received the canton's Solothurner Heimatschutzpreis for heritage preservation.

What is worth seeing?

• A modest 17th-century building with late Gothic character.
• An interior shaped by successive alterations, from the 1697 gallery to the 1927–1930 scheme.
• The inscription on the chancel arch commemorating the 1628 consecration.
• The setting itself: the village lies by the Raus gorge in the Solothurn Jura landscape.

How do you get there?

The church stands at Kirchstrasse 7 in Gänsbrunnen, at roughly 47.264 N, 7.471 E. You can reach it by car or by regional transport through the Thal valley; check current timetables before you travel.

When should you visit?

The exterior can be seen all year. The interior is usually open around services, so confirm Mass times with the parish. Late spring and summer suit walks in the surrounding countryside best.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same church as the one in Welschenrohr? No. Welschenrohr's own parish church is dedicated to St. Theodul and St. Anthony of Padua and dates from 1673–1677. St. Joseph's is in Gänsbrunnen.

When was St. Joseph's built? Construction ran from 1626 to 1628, with consecration on 19 October 1628. It became a parish church in 1720.

Is the church a listed monument? Yes. It appears in the Solothurn cantonal list of protected objects as Pfarrkirche St. Josef, Kirchstrasse 7.

Has it been restored recently? Yes. Work in 2012–2013 improved the interior climate and conserved the fittings, and the parish won the cantonal heritage award in 2014.