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
St. Martin Zürich is the church of St. Martin on the Zürichberg, in the Fluntern district above central Zurich. The site carries two layers of history: a medieval house of Augustinian canons and a small Catholic parish that still exists today.
How did St. Martin on the Zürichberg begin?
According to the Historical Lexicon of Switzerland (HLS), reform-minded members of the Grossmünster chapter founded the community around 1127, during the canonical reform in the Diocese of Constance. A Zurich citizen, Rudolf von Fluntern, paid for the initial endowment. In 1154 the pope confirmed the Augustinian rule, and the first provost appears in the records the same year. A document from 1271 points to a double monastery, with both men and women, at that time.
What happened to the monastery?
In 1471 Zurich, citing mismanagement and a lapse in observance, placed St. Martin under the Windesheim reform congregation from the Netherlands. Canons from St. Leonhard in Basel carried it out. A new library went up, altars were consecrated and artworks commissioned. The Reformation ended the monastery in 1525. Part of the buildings came down in 1533, and the last remnants were cleared in 1847.
What did the old church look like?
The Romanesque church dated from the first half of the 12th century: a three-aisled pillar basilica with a long choir and side chapels. Archaeologists examined it in 1893 and 1973.
What is St. Martin today?
The name now belongs to the Catholic parish of St. Martin in Zurich, covering parts of Fluntern and Hottingen. It is the smallest Catholic parish in the city. The HLS dates the parish to 1940. Fabrizio Brentini's 2013 guide, "Die katholische Kirche St. Martin in Zürich-Fluntern", covers the parish church.
Who is it for?
Visitors interested in Zurich beyond the Old Town, sacred architecture and the city's Reformation history. Zürichberg and Fluntern are quiet, green hillside districts above the lake, a good walk after sightseeing downtown.
Frequently asked questions
Does the medieval monastery still stand?
No. It was dissolved in 1525 and its last remains were removed in 1847. What we know about the Romanesque basilica comes from archaeological work in 1893 and 1973.
Who founded St. Martin on the Zürichberg?
Reform-minded members of the Grossmünster chapter, around 1127. Rudolf von Fluntern financed the initial endowment.
Which district is it in?
Fluntern, on the Zürichberg. The parish also covers part of Hottingen.
Is it the same as St. Martin in Munich?
No. Munich's St. Martin stands in the Moosach district and has no connection to the Zurich one.
Nearby places
Earn badges for the places you visit
Download NextOnTrip, discover new places and check off your trails.