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About this place
St. Nikolaus parish church sits in Niederbuchsiten, a small municipality in the canton of Solothurn in north-western Switzerland. The building you see today dates from 1934–1935, yet worship on this spot goes back to the Middle Ages.
What is the history of St. Nikolaus in Niederbuchsiten?
The story starts with a chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra, built, according to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (HLS), probably in the 13th century. At first it belonged to the parish of Oensingen. After a new church was consecrated in 1604, it came under neighbouring Oberbuchsiten. Niederbuchsiten became a parish in its own right in 1805.
Until 1934 a baroque church with wall paintings occupied the site. It was pulled down and the present church went up in 1934–1935. Only two pieces of the older building survive: a builder's stone (Baumeisterstein) dated 1604 and an Empire-style baptismal font.
What can you see here?
A statue of the patron saint stands on the tower. The church is listed as "Pfarrkirche St. Nikolaus, 1934/35" in ISOS, the federal inventory of Swiss townscapes, which documents the built fabric of Niederbuchsiten. Inside, look for the surviving relics of the earlier church: the dated stone and the font.
What about the bells?
The bells were cast in 1935 by H. Rüetschi AG in Aarau. The largest, the Christkönigsglocke (Christ the King bell), weighs 3,000 kg. Swiss radio SRF Musikwelle featured the Niederbuchsiten bells in its "Glocken der Heimat" series, so you can hear them before you go.
How to plan a visit
Niederbuchsiten lies in canton Solothurn, close to Oensingen and Oberbuchsiten. The church makes a quiet stop on a day out in the area and a look around takes a quarter of an hour or so. It is a working parish church, so visit outside service times and keep the noise down.
Frequently asked questions
When was the current church built?
In 1934–1935, replacing an earlier baroque church.
What remains of the old church?
A builder's stone dated 1604 and an Empire-period baptismal font.
When did Niederbuchsiten become its own parish?
In 1805. Before that, the chapel was tied first to Oensingen and later to Oberbuchsiten.
How heavy is the biggest bell?
The Christkönigsglocke weighs 3,000 kg and was cast in Aarau in 1935.
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