Saint Lucius church

St. Luzi Church (Saint Lucius) in Chur is a former Premonstratensian abbey church in the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It sits on higher ground above the cathedral, at Alte Schanfiggerstrasse 9, and forms one complex with the diocesan seminary and the theological college. Its Carolingian crypt is what draws most visitors.

Who was Lucius, and why does this hill matter?

Lucius (Luzius) has been regarded as patron of the Chur diocese since the 10th century. His relics were kept in a church on this hill and removed before 821. No reliable written records survive from that early church. Around 800, a community living under monastic rules ran a school for clergy here.

What is the history of the monastery?

• 1149 – Premonstratensian canons are documented, having settled shortly before. The convent was a daughter house of Roggenburg in Bavaria.
• 1453 – the order's General Chapter raised the house to an abbey, although its head had been called abbot since the 1180s.
• 1529 – Abbot Theodul Schlegel was executed.
• 1539 – the monastic estates were leased to Chur citizens and the community went into exile at Bendern (in today's Liechtenstein).
• 1636 – the canons returned to St. Luzi.
• 1806–1807 – the convent was dissolved and the site passed to a seminary expelled from Merano.

What can you see?

The highlight is the Carolingian ring crypt, dated to the 8th century: a semicircular, barrel-vaulted passage with wall niches running beneath the choir. Beside it lies a Romanesque hall crypt from the 12th century. Older reference works tie the crypt to Bishop Valentinian in the 6th century, but Swiss sources place it in the Carolingian period.

How do you visit?

Entry to the church is free, but opening times vary because the building belongs to the seminary complex. Guided tours are the safest option. Chur Tourism runs private church tours, including a combined tour of the cathedral, St. Stephan and St. Luzi (about 2 hours). The standard tour lasts around 1.5 hours and costs CHF 210 per group of up to 20. The old town is a few minutes' walk downhill.

Frequently asked questions

Is St. Luzi the same as Chur Cathedral? No. The cathedral is a separate building lower on the hill; St. Luzi stands above it.

Is it the St. Luzi church in Lain near Lenzerheide? No. Lain has its own church of the same name, also with a ring crypt. The Chur church is at Alte Schanfiggerstrasse 9.

Do I have to pay to enter? Entry is free. Only guided tours are charged.

Do monks still live here? No. The Premonstratensian convent was dissolved in 1806, and since 1807 the site has served clergy training.