Save this place and discover nearby attractions with NextOnTrip
In the app you can add it to your favorites, see what else is worth visiting nearby on the map, and earn a badge for your visit.
The app is available for iPhone and Android.
About this place
The Reformed Church in Kilchberg (Reformierte Kirche Kilchberg) crowns a hill in Kilchberg, a lakeside municipality in the canton of Zurich, just beyond the city limits. Together with the nearby castle it forms the tallest cluster of buildings in the village and serves as its landmark. A cemetery surrounds the church, and two famous writers are buried there.
Where is it and how do you get there?
Kilchberg sits on the left bank of Lake Zurich, south of the city, in the Horgen district. The church stands at about 47.317 N, 8.542 E in the upper part of the village, so expect a short uphill walk from the lower streets. Do not confuse it with Kilchberg in Basel-Landschaft, which has its own church, St. Martin.
What will you see?
The building is a plain village church of the Swiss Reformed tradition: a simple nave and a tower, with none of the decoration you would find in a Catholic church. The tower holds bells cast mostly in 1898 by the Rüetschi foundry in Aarau, a peal that Swiss radio SRF has featured in its programme on bells.
The graveyard around the church is the main draw for visitors. Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, the nineteenth-century Swiss poet and novelist, is buried here; his former house in Kilchberg is now a local museum. Thomas Mann, the Nobel laureate, moved to Kilchberg in 1954 and died in 1955, and he lies in the family grave in the same cemetery. His son Golo Mann is listed on the municipal cemetery plan as well.
Who is this stop for?
It suits readers of German-language literature, walkers who want a quiet side trip from central Zurich, and anyone interested in modest Protestant church architecture. Access to the interior depends on the parish's opening times, so do not count on getting inside. The churchyard and surroundings can be visited during the day.
When should you go?
Spring, summer and early autumn are the most pleasant, when the climb to the hill pairs well with a lakeside stroll. Plan about an hour for the walk up, the graves and the area around the church.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thomas Mann buried at this church?
Mann is buried in the Kilchberg cemetery. The exact plot is easiest to find on the cemetery plan published by the municipality.
Who else is buried there?
The cemetery holds the grave of Conrad Ferdinand Meyer and that of Golo Mann, Thomas Mann's son.
Is this the same Kilchberg as the one in Basel-Landschaft?
No. This church is in the canton of Zurich on Lake Zurich. The Basel-Landschaft village is a different place with its own St. Martin church.
Is there an entrance fee?
No, the churchyard and the grounds are open to everyone. The interior is open according to the parish schedule.
Nearby places
Earn badges for the places you visit
Download NextOnTrip, discover new places and check off your trails.