roman catholic parish church St. Michael with altar and figure of St. Michael

St. Michael's Roman Catholic parish church in Ennetbaden is a 1960s concrete church on a steep slope above the Limmat river in the Swiss canton of Aargau. It ranks among the most striking modern sacred buildings in the region, and beside its altar stands a Baroque figure of the patron saint rescued from an earlier chapel.

What is this place?

The church sits on Grendelstrasse and forms a complex with the parish rectory. Ennetbaden's Catholics belonged to the parish of neighbouring Baden until they founded their own parish in 1966. Construction is usually dated 1963–1966, although some references give 1961–65.

Who designed it, and what does it look like?

In 1960 the parish held a design competition for a new church, and Basel architect Hermann Baur won it. The plot is unusually steep, so the buildings step down the hillside from the nave through the sanctuary to the bell tower. Baur described the whole ensemble as a "cité paroissiale", a small parish town. Besides the church, which seats about 500, there is a 120-seat weekday chapel, a parish hall for 150 and the rectory.

The walls are raw, board-marked concrete (béton brut). The Aargau heritage office notes that Baur borrowed from Le Corbusier's chapel at Ronchamp, above all the exposed concrete and the way visitors are guided through the space. The canton counts the church among the outstanding religious buildings of 1960s Aargau.

What can you see near the altar?

Parts of the altar and the figure of St. Michael were carried over from the previous, smaller chapel. The statue is carved from shell sandstone and dates to 1668–69. Since 1966 this part of the furnishings has been protected. A seventeenth-century figure against bare concrete is the most memorable contrast inside.

How should you plan a visit?

This is a working parish church, so visit outside services and keep quiet. Check opening hours on the parish website. Ennetbaden lies directly across the Limmat from Baden, which makes it easy to combine with a walk through the spa district known for its thermal springs. Expect an uphill climb on the slope.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed St. Michael's in Ennetbaden? Hermann Baur of Basel, winner of the 1960 competition.

When was it built? Most often 1963–1966, the dating used by the Aargau heritage inventory.

Is the St. Michael figure from the 1960s? No. The sandstone sculpture was made in 1668–69 and comes from the earlier chapel, moved along with part of the altar.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes. It is listed in the Aargau heritage inventory, and the furnishings from the old chapel have been protected since 1966.