St-Michael church

St. Michael's Rock Church (Felsenkirche St. Michael) sits at the foot of the castle hill in Raron, in the Swiss canton of Valais, close to the hamlet of Sankt German. It is a modern church hollowed out of the rock itself and consecrated in 1974.

What is it?

Architect Donat Ruff designed the church, and construction took about three years. The whole building lies inside the hill, like a cave. One tourism source calls it the largest modern church built entirely within rock in Europe, with room for roughly 500 people.

Why Sankt German?

According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, St. German was originally the church centre of this stretch of the Rhone valley, with a place of worship probably dating to the 8th or 9th century. The church in Raron itself became a parish church only in 1299. The place name preserves the memory of that earliest Christian settlement.

What else is nearby?

Higher up the rocky spur stands the fortified church of St. Romanus (Burgkirche), built by Ulrich Ruffiner around 1510 to 1517. Its tower was partly destroyed in the Raron feud of 1417, and the church was restored in the 1970s. The poet Rainer Maria Rilke, buried here in 1927, rests in the churchyard on the south side. A small museum in the old parish house next to the church is reported to open from June to September.

How do you get there?

From Raron station (about 639 m above sea level), the walk past the school to the rock church and on to the Burgkirche (about 702 m) takes around 20 minutes on a paved, partly steep road. From the village centre, the climb to the castle church is about 15 minutes.

When should you go?

Late spring to autumn is best, when the museum is open and the path is dry. Check current opening hours with the Raron-Niedergesteln tourist office (Bahnhofstrasse 16, +41 27 934 31 00).

Frequently asked questions

Is Sankt German a separate town?

It is part of the Raron area. The name goes back to the old church centre described in the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

Who designed the rock church?

Donat Ruff. It was consecrated in 1974 after about three years of work.

Can I visit Rilke's grave?

Yes. It lies by the south wall of St. Romanus church, a short climb above the rock church.

How long should I plan?

The interior is a short stop. Including the walk from the station and the castle church, allow about an hour.