Saint Martin chapel

St. Martin's Chapel (Kapelle St. Martin) in Bättwil is a small 18th-century chapel at Kirchgasse 2 in the village of Bättwil, canton of Solothurn, Switzerland. It sits in the middle of the village in the Leimental valley, close to the French border and a short ride from Basel.

When was the chapel built?

The building dates to 1744, when it was founded as a chapel of the Sacred Heart (Herz Jesu). It has carried the dedication to St. Martin since 1791. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland lists it as the village's notable religious building. Bättwil has no parish church of its own. It belongs to a joint parish with neighbouring Witterswil. The village was allowed its own cemetery in 1789, a few years before the chapel changed its patron saint.

Is the chapel a protected monument?

Yes. It appears on the protected-buildings list of the Solothurn cantonal heritage office (Kirchgasse 2, plot 591). The ISOS survey of Swiss settlements counts it among the valuable individual buildings that give the village its architectural and historical interest. The canton's archaeology series (ASO, volumes of 1991 and 1993) and volume three of the "Kunstdenkmäler des Kantons Solothurn" (1957) also mention it.

What else is there to see in Bättwil?

Bättwil began as a linear street village and was first recorded in 1244/45. In the Middle Ages it belonged, together with Ettingen, to Reichenau Abbey, and from 1522 Solothurn gradually took over lordship of the village. A 15th-century mill still stands, and Roman finds have turned up in the Eggfeld fields. Until the 20th century residents lived from grain and wine growing. Today Bättwil is a residential municipality of roughly a thousand people, many of whom commute to nearby towns.

How do you get there?

Bättwil lies on the former Birsigtalbahn, which has linked the village with Basel since 1888. From central Basel, take tram line 10 towards Dornach or Rodersdorf. The chapel stands among the village houses, so you can walk to it from the stop. Its coordinates are about 47.490 N, 7.509 E.

When should you visit?

Pair the chapel with a walk through the Leimental. Fields, orchards and vineyards surround the village, and the landscape looks best from late spring to autumn. The chapel is small and a quarter of an hour is enough to see it. For service times, check the notices of the Witterswil-Bättwil parish.

Frequently asked questions

How old is St. Martin's Chapel in Bättwil? It dates from 1744. It was first dedicated to the Sacred Heart and has been dedicated to St. Martin since 1791.

Does Bättwil have a parish church? No. The village belongs to the Witterswil-Bättwil parish, and the chapel serves as its local place of worship.

Is the chapel listed? Yes. It is on the Solothurn canton's list of protected buildings at Kirchgasse 2.

How do I get there from Basel? Take tram line 10 along the Birsig valley. It follows the route of the old Birsigtalbahn.