Pfarrkirche St. Anna

St. Anna parish church in Schindellegi is a Catholic church in one of the two villages of Feusisberg municipality, canton Schwyz, in the Höfe district. The village sits on a terrace above Lake Zurich at roughly 600–800 m above sea level. The building is a neo-Baroque church from the early 1900s.

What is the history of St. Anna church?

A chapel dedicated to St. Anne was consecrated in 1599. The present neo-Baroque church was built in 1907–08. For centuries Schindellegi belonged to the parish of Freienbach and, from 1492, to Feusisberg. It became a parish in its own right only in 1964. The church lies in the Diocese of Chur, Ausserschwyz deanery.

What will you see?

The church is a Swiss example of early twentieth-century neo-Baroque design, set within a village that still has a rural feel. An art guide by Leo Ehrler (Schnell & Steiner, 2010) is devoted to it, a sign of its standing among the region's sacred buildings. Visit outside service times and check that the doors are open that day.

How do you get to Schindellegi?

The church stands at about 47.174 N, 8.713 E. The Wädenswil–Einsiedeln railway has served Schindellegi since 1877, with a station in the village, and the A3 motorway has passed nearby since 1968. From Zurich it is a short trip by train or by car along the lake's southern shore.

What else is nearby?

Feusisberg consists of Schindellegi and Feusisberg village. In 2000, more than two thirds of the municipality's 3,779 residents lived in Schindellegi. The area traditionally lived off cattle farming and dairying, and the lakeside terrace suits easy walks. Feusisberg village has its own baroque parish church, consecrated in 1785, with the abbot of Einsiedeln as patron. Do not confuse it with St. Anna in Schindellegi.

When should you visit?

Late spring to autumn gives the best lake views for walks around the village. Visit the church on a weekday, or on Sunday morning with respect for the Mass.

Frequently asked questions

When was St. Anna church in Schindellegi built? The current neo-Baroque building dates from 1907–08. An earlier St. Anne chapel was consecrated in 1599.

Does Schindellegi have its own parish? Yes, since 1964. Before that it belonged to Freienbach and, from 1492, to Feusisberg.

Can I reach it by train? Yes. Schindellegi has a station on the Wädenswil–Einsiedeln line, open since 1877.

Which diocese is it in? The Diocese of Chur, Ausserschwyz deanery.