Pfarrkirche St. Johannes

The Parish Church of St. John (Pfarrkirche St. Johannes) in Oberiberg is a Roman Catholic church in a village at roughly 1,085 m above sea level in the canton of Schwyz, central Switzerland. It belongs to the Diocese of Chur and the Innerschwyz deanery and is dedicated to John the Baptist. Some sources spell the name St. Johann.

Where is the church?

Oberiberg has about 885 residents and lies between Schwyz and Einsiedeln, inside the Hoch-Ybrig holiday region. The church stands at around 47.042 N, 8.786 E, in the village itself, and serves as a landmark of the settlement.

What is its history?

The site has medieval roots. Accounts mention a chapel here as early as the 14th century, and the first church was consecrated in 1481, the same year the parish broke away from Schwyz. Priests from the Schwyz community held services there at first.

In the second half of the 17th century the building was enlarged as the population grew. The present church was inaugurated in October 1876. The dispute over where to place the new church contributed to the split of the old Iberg municipality: in 1884 it divided into Oberiberg and Unteriberg, and each village built its own church. W. Kälin published a study of the building in 1984, and H. Eichhorn covered the local parishes in 2003.

What else is there to see nearby?

Oberiberg works well as a mountain base. The hiking network totals about 170 km, with mountain-bike and e-bike routes as well. By the Minsterbach stream you will find a Vita-Parcours fitness trail and two picnic spots with fire pits. In winter the Hoch-Ybrig ski area runs 13 lifts and roughly 50 km of pistes. The name Iberg (Ybrig) is usually read as "the mountain where yews grow" and first appears in a document from 1350. The land belonged to Einsiedeln Abbey from the 11th century.

When should you visit?

This is a working parish church, so plan a visit outside service times. A stop in the village fits easily into a summer hike or a ski day. At this altitude the weather can change quickly, so pack warm layers outside high summer.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the Oberiberg church dedicated to? John the Baptist. Documents call it St. Johannes or St. Johann.

When was the current church built? It was inaugurated in October 1876. The first church on the site was consecrated in 1481.

Why does the village have its own parish and municipality? The parish separated from Schwyz in 1481. The Iberg municipality split in 1884 into Oberiberg and Unteriberg after a quarrel over the site of the new church.

Can you hike in the area? Yes. Hoch-Ybrig offers about 170 km of trails, cycling routes and downhill skiing in winter.