Sacred Monuments in Switzerland
A guide to 337 Sacred Monuments in Switzerland — with descriptions, photos and traveler visits from the NextOnTrip community. Locations spread across 217 cities and towns. Most visited by the community: Erasmuskapelle, Museo del Convento di Santa Maria Assunta, cloister & lapidary museum.
-
evangelical reformed church
Suhr
Reformierte Kirche Suhr (the Reformed Church of Suhr) is a late Gothic parish church in Suhr, in the Swiss canton of Aargau, just outside Aarau. It crowns a hill spur and has long been the landmark at the heart of the village. How old is the church? Worship on this site goes back to the early Middle Ages: a church is recorded from the 8th century, and the parish was once among the largest in the region. The present building was consecrated in 1495, and a massive tower was added beside the polygonal choir in 1497. Patronage passed from the Habsburgs to the collegiate chapter of Beromünster in 1400, then to the canton of Aargau in 1857. Over time, communities such as Oberentfelden and Gränichen split off, and after the Reformation so did Aarau, Untermuhen and Rupperswil. What will you see? A late Gothic body with a many-sided choir and a sturdy tower. A lightning strike in 1844 wrecked the wooden ceiling and the stained glass. A small room inside the tower served as a prison cell in earlier centuries. The church was restored most recently in 1994. What else is worth a stop in Suhr? Wynabrücke – a stone arch bridge over the Wyna, built in 1770. Museum Suhr – the local history museum in the former Untervogthaus; its first room, the Janz-Stübli, remains in its original state. Heiliggeist Church – a modern Catholic church on Tramstrasse, consecrated in 1961. How do you get there? Suhr lies in the lower Suhrental valley and works as a suburb of Aarau. Trains have run here since 1877 (Baden–Lenzburg–Zofingen) and 1904 (Aarau–Reinach). From Aarau, a train or local bus gets you there quickly. Frequently asked questions When was the church built? The current building was consecrated in 1495 and the tower followed in 1497. A church stood here much earlier. Is it a Protestant church? Yes, it belongs to the Reformed parish of Suhr. Catholics have their own church, Heiliggeist, in the village. What did the 1844 lightning do? It destroyed the wooden ceiling and the coloured glass windows. Is anything else worth seeing nearby? Yes: the 1770 Wynabrücke and the municipal museum in the Untervogthaus.
-
christ catholic church St. Leodegar
Möhlin
St. Leodegar Christ Catholic Church (Christkatholische Kirche St. Leodegar) sits in Möhlin, in the Swiss canton of Aargau, on the street called Kirchsteig. It occupies a prominent raised spot at the edge of a terrace, so it stands out above the surrounding village. It is the parish church of the Christ Catholic (Old Catholic) community, one of Switzerland's smaller denominations, and one of the oldest religious sites in Möhlin. What is the history of the church? Christian roots at this site go back to around the year 600, and a church is first documented in 794. The bell tower was renewed in 1398. The nave and choir took their present form in a rebuilding of 1607, which kept the older tower. In 1634, during the Thirty Years' War, Swedish troops devastated the building, and the restoration gave the interior a Baroque look. Why is it Old Catholic? In 1872 the Möhlin parish assembly rejected the dogmas of the First Vatican Council, and in 1875 the congregation joined the newly formed Christ Catholic diocese. Those who stayed loyal to Rome founded their own parish in 1880, which today has a separate church, also named after St. Leodegar. The two are easy to confuse, so look for the Kirchsteig address. What will you see? After the Christ Catholics took over the church (1880/81), a thorough renovation in a neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic spirit followed, planned by Rothpletz. In 1953-54 Walter Kamber carried out another full restoration, which uncovered painted decoration on the ceiling. Work in 1982-83 and 1986-87 also brought a new organ by Armin Hauser. Walk around the exterior and note how the medieval tower meets a nave from the early 17th century. The building is listed in the Aargau cantonal heritage inventory. How do you get there, and when should you go? Möhlin lies in the north of the canton, near the Rhine and the German border, close to Rheinfelden. The church is at roughly 47.558 N, 7.841 E. The easiest approach is on foot from the village centre toward Kirchsteig. The interior is typically open during services and parish events, so check the parish website for visiting hours. Daylight is best for seeing the hilltop setting and the building's outline. Frequently asked questions Is St. Leodegar in Möhlin a Roman Catholic church? Möhlin has two churches with this name. The one on Kirchsteig belongs to the Christ Catholic (Old Catholic) community, and the other to the Roman Catholic parish. How old is the building? The first mention of a church dates from 794, the tower from 1398, and the present nave and choir from the rebuilding of 1607. Is it a protected monument? Yes, it appears in the Aargau heritage protection inventory (Denkmalschutzinventar). Is there an entrance fee? No admission fee information is available. Contact the parish about opening hours before your visit.
-
Reformierte Kirche (1734–1736)
Laupen BE
The Reformed Church of Laupen (building of 1734–1736) is the Protestant parish church of Laupen, a small town in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. It sits in the lower Sense valley, close to where the Sense flows into the Saane, and replaced an older chapel on the same ground. It makes an easy stop alongside Laupen Castle and the old town. What is the history of the church? The present building was constructed anew between 1734 and 1736. Its predecessor was a chapel dedicated to St Pancras and St Catherine, first recorded in 1356 as a branch of the Neuenegg parish. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland notes that the chapel was rebuilt in 1479. After Bern adopted the Reformation, Laupen became an independent parish in 1528, together with neighbouring Kriechenwil. The church was renovated again in 1947–1948. What can you see inside? The oldest furnishing is a Renaissance pulpit from around 1660, older than the church itself and carried over from the earlier interior. Twentieth-century stained glass adds colour: one window by Adolf Kreuzer shows Rudolf von Erlach, the Bernese commander tied to Laupen's history, and another from 1949 is by Paul Zehnder. The setting is plain and typically Reformed rather than ornate. Why combine it with the rest of Laupen? Laupen has just over 3,000 residents and a compact medieval layout. Laupen Castle rises above the Sense and once served as the seat of the Bernese district administration. In 1339 the area saw the Laupen War, in which Bern defeated Fribourg and its allies, with the decisive battle fought at Bramberg. The church is a natural starting point for a walk past these sites. How do you get there? Laupen lies roughly 17 km west of Bern. The church is in the town centre at about 46.903 N, 7.241 E, a short walk from the station or the car park. Regional train and bus services run from Bern; check sbb.ch for current timetables. When should you visit? The exterior and surroundings can be enjoyed year-round. The interior is usually open around services and parish events, so ask the local Reformed parish about access. Spring and early autumn suit a longer walk along the Sense and Saane. Frequently asked questions When was the church in Laupen built? The current building dates from 1734–1736 and was renovated in 1947–1948. What stood here before? A chapel of St Pancras and St Catherine, documented from 1356 and rebuilt in 1479. What is the most notable feature inside? The Renaissance pulpit of about 1660 and the stained-glass windows by Adolf Kreuzer and Paul Zehnder. Is it still in use? Yes. It is the parish church of Laupen's Reformed congregation, an independent parish since the Reformation.
-
Katholische Kirche St. Luzius und Florinus
Walenstadt
The Catholic Church of St. Luzius and Florinus (Pfarrkirche St. Luzius und Florinus) is the parish church of Walenstadt, a small town in the canton of St. Gallen at the eastern end of Lake Walen. Its history reaches back to the early Middle Ages, and parts of its fabric are roughly a thousand years old. How old is the church? The earliest written mention comes from the Rhaetian royal estate register (churrätisches Reichsgutsurbar) of 842/843. Excavations, however, show that an even older place of worship stood on the site, dated to the Merovingian period. The site is listed in the canton's archaeological inventory. In 1045 King Henry III confirmed Schänis Abbey as owner. According to the sources, the church passed to Pfäfers Abbey during the 11th century, and Pfäfers kept the patronage right until the abbey was dissolved in 1838. A parish priest (Leutpriester) is recorded around 1243. The present church was consecrated in 1306, and the nave and tower from the 11th century were kept as part of it. Who were Luzius and Florinus? Both saints are patrons linked to old Rhaetia, the region spanning today's Graubünden and St. Gallen. They give the parish its name, and the parish community (Kirchgemeinde) was formally founded in 1837. During the Reformation Walenstadt stayed Catholic, even though the local priest Balthasar Vögeli and his brother Kaspar argued for reform. What will you see? The main draw is the building itself, with a tower and nave that have survived since the 11th century. It suits visitors interested in Swiss religious history: traces from the Merovingian, Carolingian and late medieval periods meet in a single site. For a deeper dive, look for Paul Gubser's monograph "St. Luzius und Florin, Walenstadt" (1987) and volume 1 of the Kunstdenkmäler des Kantons St. Gallen (1951). How do you get there? The church stands in Walenstadt itself (about 47.125 N, 9.318 E). The town has a railway station on the line along Lake Walen, so the trip from Zurich or Chur by train is easy, and the centre is a walk from the station. A visit pairs well with a stroll by the lake. When is the best time to visit? This is a working parish church, so go outside service times and keep noise down. The lakeside is most pleasant from late spring to early autumn, but the church can be visited year-round. Frequently asked questions Which century does the church date from? The present building was consecrated in 1306, but the nave and tower date to the 11th century. An earlier church on the site goes back to Merovingian times. When is the church first mentioned in writing? In the Rhaetian royal estate register of 842/843. Who held the patronage of the church? Pfäfers Abbey, until it was dissolved in 1838. Did Walenstadt adopt the Reformation? No. Despite support from the priest Balthasar Vögeli and his brother Kaspar, the town remained Catholic.
-
Kirche Martin Birmensdorf
Birmensdorf (ZH)
Kirche St. Martin in Birmensdorf (ZH) is the Reformed parish church of Birmensdorf, a municipality in the Knonauer Amt region of canton Zürich, a few kilometres southwest of the city of Zürich. It ranks among the oldest sites of worship in the Zürich countryside: the building stands on the foundations of an earlier church, and the earliest traces of worship here are dated to the 9th century. The cantonal heritage inventory lists it as an object of supra-municipal importance. What will you see? The church grew in stages and mixes several periods. The lower part of the tower is Romanesque. The tower top dates from 1571 and ends in an unusual slanted cut that locals call the "Käsbissen", roughly a "bite of cheese". The Baroque nave was built in 1659, and it is one of the earliest post-Reformation churches in the canton designed without a chancel arch. Inside, look for the 20th-century fittings by Zürich architect Friedrich Wehrli, above all the pulpit wall. What is its history? From the Middle Ages the parish was tied to the Benedictine abbey of St. Blasien in the Black Forest. According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, the church was incorporated into the abbey in 1325. Originally the parish also covered St. George's church in the Reppisch valley and chapels in Aesch and Islisberg. The abbey held the right to appoint the priest, and the endowment is said to have come from the lords of Sellenbüren before 1140. In the 16th and 17th centuries the village was a centre of the Anabaptist movement. Early in the 17th century villagers set up a free school that children from Aesch also attended. How do you get there? Birmensdorf lies on the road from Zürich towards Aargau and is linked to Zürich by bus. The church stands in the village centre, so a visit fits easily into a short walk. The interior is usually open during services and parish events, so check the parish calendar for times. Frequently asked questions Is it a Catholic or Protestant church? The cantonal heritage inventory describes it as Reformed. Some catalogues give a different denomination, so the Zürich heritage office entry is the one to trust. How old is the church? The earliest traces of worship on the site are dated to the 9th century. The present nave dates from 1659 and the tower top from 1571. What does "Käsbissen" mean for the tower? It is a local term for the tower's slanted top, shaped like a bitten piece of cheese. Are there related historic sites nearby? St. George's church in the Reppisch valley once belonged to the same parish, which shows how wide its reach was.
-
Alte Kirche Albisrieden
Zürich
Alte Kirche Albisrieden is the old Reformed church in the village centre of Albisrieden, now part of Zürich's Kreis 9. A classicist building from the early 19th century, it anchors the historic core of a district that began as a small farming village. What is the Alte Kirche? It is the parish church of the local Reformed congregation, built in 1816–1817 (some sources give 1816–1818) in the classicist style. The design is attributed to the architect Hans Conrad Stadler (1788–1846). The name simply means "old church" and distinguishes it from the district's second Reformed church, the Neue Kirche, built in 1949–1951 about 800 metres away. What is its history? Albisrieden first appears in records between 874 and 887, among the oldest holdings of Zürich's Grossmünster. A branch chapel dedicated to St Ulrich and St Konrad is documented in 1270. After the Reformation the village remained a dependency of the Grossmünster, which kept collecting ground rents and tithes here into the 19th century. The present church replaced that earlier building when Albisrieden was still tiny, with 496 residents in 1836. Zürich took over the church patronage in 1831, and in 1866 Albisrieden became its own Reformed parish. The district then grew fast, from just under 3,000 people in 1930 to nearly 19,000 by 1970. The Neue Kirche and the Catholic St Konrad church (1954–1955) date from that expansion. What can you see there? The church sits within the old village centre, which is covered by Switzerland's ISOS inventory of sites worth protecting. Walk around the building and the surrounding lanes to get a feel for the former village. Next door, the Ortsmuseum Albisrieden occupies the old mill (Alte Mühle). Its "Chilezimmer", a room devoted to church history, displays liturgical objects including a baptismal font cover from 1678 and 18th-century communion vessels. How do you get there? Albisrieden joined Zürich's tram network in 1923, so the district is easy to reach from the city centre by public transport. Check current lines and timetables on the ZVV site or the SBB app. The old village is compact and flat, so the church is a short walk from the nearest stop. When should you visit? The church is in active use by the Reformed congregation. Visit around service times, or check opening hours with the Reformierte Kirche Zürich, Kirchenkreis neun. The exterior and its surroundings can be seen year-round. If you want to include the museum, confirm its opening days first, as it is open on selected days only. Frequently asked questions When was the Alte Kirche Albisrieden built? The current church dates from 1816–1817 and is classicist in style. A chapel on the site was already mentioned in 1270. How does it differ from the Neue Kirche? The Alte Kirche is the early 19th-century building in the village centre. The Neue Kirche is the second Reformed church, built in 1949–1951 roughly 800 metres away to plans by Hans Martin von Meyenburg. Can you go inside? It is a working parish church, so access depends on services and parish events. The Reformed congregation publishes current times. What else is nearby? The Ortsmuseum Albisrieden in the old mill is right next door, with its church room and exhibits on local history.
-
Reformierte Kirche Meisterschwanden
Meisterschwanden
Reformierte Kirche Meisterschwanden is a Classicist Protestant parish church in Meisterschwanden, in the Swiss canton of Aargau and the Lenzburg district, close to the shore of Lake Hallwil (Hallwilersee). It stands at Kirchrain 148 and is the most notable historic building in this small lakeside village. What is the history of the church? Until 1817, Meisterschwanden belonged to the parish of Seengen as a branch community. Once it became independent, it needed a church of its own. The architect was Jost Kopp (1759–1830), and construction took place in the early 1820s. The Aargau heritage inventory gives 1819–1820, while the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland lists 1820–1822. The church has cantonal protection from 1960 and federal protection from 1986, with a priority B rating for regional significance. A full restoration was carried out in 1976. What does the exterior look like? The plan is a transverse church, yet from outside it reads as an octagon. A tower leans against the north long side, topped with curved clock gables, a domed helm and a lantern. Round-arched windows are separated by flat pilasters, and the entrances sit in the central axes beneath straight cornices. What will you see inside? The interior is oval, with cross-shaped arms. Stucco pilasters carry Ionic capitals draped with garlands, a broad cove leads up to a flat ceiling decorated with laurel wreaths, and Empire-style stucco runs above the windows and along the parapet of the three-sided gallery. The round pulpit hangs high on the wall and is entered from the tower. Its sounding board is crowned with an urn, and the surface is partly marbled and gilded. The goblet-shaped round font follows the same finish. How do you get there and what else is nearby? Meisterschwanden lies on the eastern shore of Lake Hallwil, in the upper Seetal valley. The church sits within the village, so a visit combines easily with a walk along the lakeside. Frequently asked questions Who designed the church in Meisterschwanden? Jost Kopp (1759–1830). The style is Classicism with Empire stucco decoration. When was it built? In the early 1820s. The Aargau heritage record states 1819–1820. Is the church protected? Yes. It has been in the cantonal inventory since 1960 and under federal protection since 1986. What is the highlight inside? The oval hall with Empire stucco, the three-sided gallery and the high pulpit reached from the tower.
-
Reformed French church (former St. Catherine's Chapel) with rectory
Murten
The French Church (Französische Kirche) in Murten is a late Gothic Reformed church in the north-eastern corner of the old town of Murten (French: Morat), in the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland. It occupies the site where St. Catherine's Chapel was re-established after the destruction of the Burgundian Wars, and it forms an ensemble with a rectory listed in the Swiss heritage inventory. What is the history of the church? In 1239 a hospital for the poor was founded on the southern edge of Murten, with a chapel dedicated to St. Catherine. It stood near where the railway station is today. During the defensive preparations of 1475 and 1476, ahead of the siege by Charles the Bold, the chapel was pulled down so it could not shelter attackers. After the Battle of Murten in 1476 it was rebuilt inside the town walls, and work on the present late Gothic building began in 1481. The church has long served the town's French-speaking community, which explains the name. Today it hosts Reformed congregation services. What can you see inside and around it? The church is small, with seating for roughly 150, and the interior feels intimate. Above the entrance hangs a plaque honouring the reformer Guillaume (Wilhelm) Farel, who preached the Reformation in Murten in 1530. For anyone tracing Protestant history in Switzerland, that plaque is the main reason to stop. The building sits in a quiet part of the old town, away from the main shopping street. Pair the visit with a walk along Murten's medieval ramparts, which can be followed around the whole town, and with views over Lake Murten. How do you get to the French Church? The address is Französische Kirchgasse 16, 3280 Murten. From the railway station it is a short walk into the old town, then north-east through the lanes. Murten has its own railway station right beside the old town, so the train is the easiest way to arrive. When should you visit? It is a working place of worship, so the interior can be closed outside services and parish events. The parish office (kirche-murten.ch) can confirm access. The exterior can be seen year-round, and late spring and early autumn are the most pleasant seasons for exploring the old town. Is it the same as the German Church? No. Murten has two Reformed churches, one French and one German, in different parts of town. Check the address before you set off. Frequently asked questions Is it a working church? Yes, it is a parish place of worship, so access depends on service times. When was the building constructed? Construction began in 1481 in the late Gothic style, on a new site inside the walls that replaced the earlier St. Catherine's Chapel. What does the plaque above the door commemorate? The reformer Guillaume Farel and his activity in Murten in 1530. How many people does it hold? About 150. Who do you ask about opening hours? The Murten parish office: [email protected] or +41 26 672 37 00.
-
Collegiate Church
Neuchâtel
The Collégiale of Neuchâtel (Collégiale Notre-Dame) is the oldest known place of worship in the city of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. It crowns the castle hill above the old town, right beside the cantonal castle, and today serves as a Protestant church. How old is it and what happened to it? Work began around 1190 and continued until the end of the 13th century. The church marked the moment the small castle town became the capital of a county. Its building history is complicated: later alterations layered different periods on top of one another. In 1530 the Reformation, led by Guillaume Farel, took hold in Neuchâtel. Catholic worship ended and much of the original furnishings, including altars, paintings and statues, was destroyed. In the 19th century the architect Léo Châtelain restored the building in a neo-Gothic spirit. Excavations beneath the floor have also uncovered burials, some predating the current church. What will you see inside? The cenotaph of the Counts and Countesses of Neuchâtel on the north wall of the choir: a group of nearly life-size painted figures under Gothic arches. A monument of this kind is already mentioned in the 14th century. 15th-century choir stalls carved with comical and cheeky figures. A stained-glass rose window on the west facade. The never-completed bell tower, which gives the church its distinctive profile. How do you get there and when should you go? The church stands in the upper old town, a few minutes on foot from the castle, up steep lanes from the centre and the lakefront. Pair the visit with a stroll around the castle hill. Opening hours and guided tour dates change, so check the church website or the Neuchâtel tourist office before you go. Conservation works have taken place in recent years, which is also worth factoring in. Frequently asked questions Is the Collégiale still an active church? Yes. It is a Protestant church that holds services and is open to visitors outside them. What is the highlight inside? The counts' cenotaph, the 15th-century choir stalls and the west rose window. How long does a visit take? Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the interior, or half a day together with the castle and the hill. Is it the same as the church in Valangin? No. The Collégiale Notre-Dame is in the city of Neuchâtel on the castle hill; Valangin is a separate village in the same canton.
-
St. Peter and Paul
Köniz
St. Peter and Paul Church (Peter-und-Paul-Kirche) in Köniz ranks among the oldest places of worship around Bern. It stands beside the former Teutonic Order commandery, now called Köniz Castle, on the south-western edge of the Swiss capital. Today it serves the Reformed parish, and for the region it is a key Romanesque monument with a High Gothic choir. How old is the church and who built it? The oldest parts of the nave date to the 11th century and rise over an even earlier church. Legend credits Queen Bertha of Burgundy with the foundation, while the documented history begins with Augustinian canons. In 1226 Emperor Frederick II handed the complex to the Teutonic Order, which ran a commandery here for centuries. During the 13th century the nave was lengthened and a bell tower was added on the north side. The Reformation of 1528 ended the commandery, and in 1729 the city of Bern bought the estate and made it a bailiff's seat. The castle's west wing has been the parish house since 1825, and since 2000 the whole complex has been a church community centre. What can you see inside? The highlight is the High Gothic choir. Fragments of stained glass from roughly 1317 to 1330, commissioned by Peter von Helfenstein, fill the side windows of its polygonal end. Between the windows survive pieces of wall painting dated 1389, showing Saints Peter, Paul and Elizabeth of Thuringia, with the donor, Commander Franz Senn von Münsingen, beside Paul. The Swiss inventory of cultural property treats the church as a building of regional importance. How do you get there from Bern? Take bus 10 from central Bern to the Köniz Zentrum stop, about 15 minutes. From there the church and castle are roughly a 10-minute walk. It makes an easy half-day trip, and you can pair it with a look at the castle courtyard. When should you visit? Opening hours are not listed in our sources, so check with the Reformed parish of Köniz before you go. Daylight visits suit the choir best, since the glass shows its colours in good light. Frequently asked questions Is this a Catholic church? No. The historic Peter and Paul church in Köniz belongs to the Swiss Reformed community today, although the dedication dates from the pre-Reformation era. What is most valuable inside? The High Gothic choir with early 14th-century stained glass and the wall paintings from 1389. Who ran the site in the Middle Ages? The Teutonic Order from 1226, and Augustinian canons before them. How do you reach it without a car? Bus 10 from Bern to Köniz Zentrum, then walk about 10 minutes.
-
Reformierte Kirche Wohlen bei Bern
Wohlen bei Bern
The Reformed Church in Wohlen bei Bern is the historic parish church of Unterwohlen, in the municipality of Wohlen bei Bern in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. The municipality sits right next to the city of Bern, which makes the church an easy quiet stop beyond the capital's centre. How old is the church? The church is first documented in 1275. Its nave goes back to the 12th or 13th century and the tower to the 14th, and both still stand. The patron saint is unknown. The building was reworked in 1678 and renovated in 1907 and again in 1966-1970. Its interior was redesigned in 2020, as listed among recent church-space projects by the Reformed Churches of Bern-Jura-Solothurn. What is the parish's history? Patronage rights were imperial fiefs. The Lords of Bremgarten gave them to the Knights of St John at Münchenbuchsee in 1320 and 1354, and after the Reformation in 1528 they passed to Bern. In the 16th century the parish also handled poor relief, residency and school matters through four districts: Wohlen, Uettligen, Murzelen and Säriswil. What else is nearby? Wohlen bei Bern spreads over terraces on the right bank of Lake Wohlen (Wohlensee), created by damming the Aare for the Mühleberg power plant between 1917 and 1921. The municipality includes about two dozen villages and hamlets. The lakeside suits an easy walk, and the church pairs well with a day in Bern. How do you get there? The church lies in Wohlen bei Bern at roughly 46.9706 N, 7.3556 E. It is a short drive or regional transport ride from central Bern; check connections in the SBB app. Frequently asked questions Is the church open to visitors? It is an active Reformed parish church, so services come first. The parish publishes service times. When was it built? The nave dates from the 12th-13th century, the tower from the 14th, and the first record is from 1275. Is this the same Wohlen as in Aargau? No. This church is in the canton of Bern; Wohlen AG is a different town. Has the building been altered? Yes, in 1678, with renovations in 1907 and 1966-1970.
-
Église de la Croix d’Ouchy
Lausanne
Église de la Croix d'Ouchy is a nineteenth-century church in the Ouchy lakeside district of Lausanne, built in 1840 for the local Anglican community. Today it belongs to the Reformed church. It also appears under the names Temple de la Croix d'Ouchy and Temple des Jordils. Why was a church built in Ouchy? Ouchy attracted many British visitors and residents in the early 1800s, and the Anglican congregation wanted a place of worship of its own. The city of Lausanne provided the land, and the municipality approved the plans. English philanthropist William Haldimand gave CHF 75,000 toward the cost. Who used the building? From the start, the church was shared with the official Reformed parish of the canton of Vaud. The Anglicans worshipped there for about 39 years before moving to Christ Church, completed in 1878 to a design by George Edmund Street. The two should not be confused. Croix d'Ouchy is the older building, and it has stayed in Reformed use. How has the building changed? A bell and a small timber belfry were added to the tower around 1887, and a first extension followed around 1902. A 1990 monograph, "Église de la Croix d'Ouchy: 1840–1990" by André Bardet, Alfred Regamey and Pierre Vollichard, covers its history. What is its future? Church use has declined. In a 2023 proposal (préavis no. 2023/31), the city suggested converting the building into an after-school care centre, with an energy-efficiency renovation. Council approved a CHF 600,000 study credit in January 2024. Check in advance whether the interior is open, since its function may change. Where is it and what is nearby? The church stands in Ouchy, a short walk from Lake Geneva (coordinates 46.5113 N, 6.6295 E). It works well as a stop on a stroll through the district along with the waterfront and harbour. The building is modest in scale. Its appeal lies in its story, a reminder of the British community that took root in Ouchy. Frequently asked questions When was the Église de la Croix d'Ouchy built? In 1840, on land supplied by the municipality of Lausanne. Who paid for it? English philanthropist William Haldimand donated CHF 75,000. Is it the same as the Anglican Christ Church in Lausanne? No. Christ Church was completed in 1878. The Anglicans moved there after about 39 years at Croix d'Ouchy. Is it still used for services? Worship use has fallen, and the city plans to convert it into an after-school facility. Check the current status before visiting.
-
Église de Saint-Jean-Cour
Lausanne
Église de Saint-Jean-Cour in Lausanne is a Reformed Protestant church at avenue de Cour 139, in the Cour district southeast of the city centre. Vaud's heritage programme treats it as a total work of art, where architecture, murals and stained glass were conceived together and modelled on early Christian basilicas. How did the church come about? It exists thanks to a gift from Marguerite de Loÿs-Chandieu. With that money, pastor Jules Amiguet had a modest temple started in 1912 in what was then an outlying neighbourhood. His brother René Amiguet drew up a first, regionalist design, but it was shelved. The commission went to Otto Schmid, an architect from Veytaux who specialised in restoring historic monuments. Lausanne guidebooks give 1915 as the year of completion. What is inside? The interior is the main draw. Louis Rivier, who had first assisted Schmid, painted the decoration over six stages between 1924 and 1940, finishing the work on his own. A Vaudois Protestant painter, he gave the church a richly decorated look that is unusual for a Reformed place of worship. Stained glass adds to the effect. By the 1990s the building was in poor shape and the organ unplayable, so a restoration followed (archive file dated 1992 to 1994). When can you visit? This is a working parish church of Saint-Jean, so access depends on services and events. It has opened to visitors during the European Heritage Days programme of canton Vaud, and it hosts organ music. Check the parish website for current dates. Frequently asked questions Is it a Catholic church? No. It is Protestant, part of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Vaud. Who designed it? Otto Schmid of Veytaux drew the plans, and Louis Rivier painted the interior. Where is it? At avenue de Cour 139 in Lausanne's Cour district. Do not confuse it with the Église de la Croix d'Ouchy, another Reformed church in the city. Why visit? For the unified interior with Rivier's murals, created over nearly two decades, and the stained glass.
-
Reformierte Kirche mit Pfarrhaus und Ofenhaus
Frauenkappelen
The Reformed church with its parsonage and bakehouse in Frauenkappelen is a listed group of buildings in the village of Frauenkappelen, canton of Bern, a short distance west of the Swiss capital. It stands on the site of a medieval convent that gave the village its name. What is this place? Frauenkappelen sits on a terrace between Lake Wohlen (Wohlensee) and the Gäbelbach stream, in the Laupen district. The heritage ensemble comprises the church, the parsonage and an outbuilding with a bread oven, the traditional village bakehouse. The three buildings are registered together as one monument entry. What is the history of the church? The settlement is first recorded around 1158, when a chapel of Mary (Capela) is mentioned. Between 1228 and 1240 an Augustinian convent was founded here, and its name, roughly "the chapels of the ladies", gave the village its own. About ten nuns lived there, drawn from noble and council families of Solothurn and Bern. In 1486 the community was merged into the St. Vincent collegiate foundation in Bern, and the remaining sisters kept their right of residence until the last one died. The convent church was built over an early medieval sunken-floor building and absorbed the older Marian chapel. At first it was a branch of the parish of Mühleberg. The 1574 rebuilding is linked with the church becoming an independent parish. The former convent building served as the parsonage until it was demolished in 1640, and today's parsonage came later. What else is nearby? The earthworks of Alt-Bubenberg castle, first mentioned in 1241 and abandoned in the 14th century. Hallstatt-period burial mounds in the Spilwald forest. The shore of Lake Wohlen. The village was the first stage out of Bern on the Bern–Murten–Lausanne road, built in 1742-1748, and had an inn, a smithy and a shop. The convent's pilgrim hospice, the Spittel, burned down in 1908. How do you get there? Frauenkappelen lies on the old road from Bern towards Murten and Lausanne, west of the cantonal capital. Driving from Bern is the easiest option. The church group stands in the village, so a look from outside takes a quarter of an hour. Pair it with a walk to the lake. When should you visit? Late spring to autumn is best for walking in the area. The church belongs to the Reformed parish, so check with the parish for interior opening times. The parsonage and bakehouse are seen from outside. Frequently asked questions Is there an entrance fee? No. You can see the ensemble from outside for free, and the church is an active parish building. Does the convent still exist? No. The convent building was demolished in 1640. The church on the former convent grounds and the village name are what remain. How much time do I need? The ensemble itself takes 15-30 minutes. Add a walk to the lake or the Alt-Bubenberg earthworks and plan half a day. Where does the village name come from? From the Augustinian convent "Sancta Maria de Cappellis", founded in the 13th century, and the earlier chapel of Mary.
-
Notre-Dame du Valentin
Lausanne
Notre-Dame du Valentin is a Catholic church in Lausanne, in the Swiss canton of Vaud. It sits on the Valentin hill close to the city centre. It holds the title of minor basilica and serves as the main place of worship for Catholics across the region. Why does this church matter to Lausanne? After the Reformation, Catholic worship was banned in Lausanne for centuries. Notre-Dame du Valentin was the first Catholic church built in the city since then. An earlier attempt on what is now avenue de l'Université failed when a landslide wrecked the structure before it was finished. The new church went up on a different site to designs by Henri Perregaux, between 1832 and 1835. Some sources put the start of work as early as around 1828. What does the building look like? Perregaux planned a three-aisled hall with Ionic columns dividing the aisles. He described the style as Roman, and the City of Lausanne calls the main body predominantly neoclassical. Despite what some descriptions say, it is not a Gothic Revival building. The original church had no tower. One was added in 1932-1933 under the architect Fernand Dumas, together with a peristyle and a broad flight of steps at the front. The white tower is 38 metres high and neo-Romanesque in character. Five bells have rung from it since 1948, and the tower was reinforced in 2006-2008. What can you see inside? The best-known feature of the interior is the large fresco in the apse showing the Virgin Mary, painted by Gino Severini. Stained glass is also documented from 1887, as part of work carried out in the later nineteenth century. Status and protection Pope John Paul II raised the church to minor basilica in 1992. The canton of Vaud listed it as a protected historic monument on 14 February 2003. The interior has recently been under a city-funded restoration, so some areas may be temporarily closed. How do you get there? The church stands on the Valentin hill, close to the centre of Lausanne, so you can reach it on foot. The entrance is up the steps added in the twentieth century. Frequently asked questions Is Notre-Dame du Valentin a Gothic Revival church? No. City sources describe it as neoclassical, with Ionic columns inside. The 1932-1933 tower is neo-Romanesque. Who designed the church? Henri Perregaux designed the main building of 1832-1835. Fernand Dumas added the tower, peristyle and steps. What stands out inside? Gino Severini's apse fresco of the Virgin Mary, and the three aisles separated by Ionic columns. Does the church have a special status? Yes. It has been a minor basilica since 1992 and a listed monument of the canton of Vaud since 2003.
-
Église Saint-François (Lausanne)
Lozanna
Église Saint-François in Lausanne is a Gothic Protestant church on Place Saint-François, in the heart of the city in the canton of Vaud. Franciscan friars founded it in the 13th century, and today it counts among the oldest buildings in Lausanne and, with the cathedral, as one of only two medieval churches still standing in the city. Why is there a church on Place Saint-François? Franciscans arrived in Lausanne in 1258. They set up a convent and built a church on what was then the southern edge of town, next to the defensive wall. To make room, the wall had to be shifted. Sources date completion to roughly 1270; the 750th anniversary celebrated in 2022 counted from 1272, when the church was ready for its first burials. A fire around 1368 damaged the church and convent, and rebuilding took several years. The nave was thoroughly renovated then, while the general plan, part of the nave structure and the choir still come from the original building. After the Reformation of 1536 the church passed to the city and became a Protestant place of worship. The convent buildings are largely gone; the last walls came down between 1895 and 1902. What will you see? A four-sided choir. Its centre forms an angle instead of a flat end, a consequence of the line of the old city wall. The bell tower. A square tower about 56 m high with four corner turrets modelled on the cathedral's. It dates from the late 14th or early 15th century, despite the Franciscan ideal of simplicity. A plain, harmonious silhouette. Later alterations left the modest character of the building intact. The church is listed in the Swiss federal inventory of cultural property (KGS 06136) and is described as Lausanne's oldest church. How to get there and when to visit The church is open daily from 8:30 to 20:00. Take a tl bus to the Saint-François stop, or the m1 and m2 metro lines and the LEB train to Lausanne-Flon, a short walk away. The nearest car parks are Rotillon and Lausanne-Palace. The square is lined with former bank buildings, the post office and shops, so a visit fits easily into a stroll through the centre. Frequently asked questions Is Église Saint-François the cathedral? No. It is a separate Reformed parish church; Lausanne's cathedral stands elsewhere in the old town. Who built it? The Franciscans, who came to Lausanne in 1258. It has been Protestant since the Reformation in 1536. Is there an entrance fee? The city of Lausanne lists no admission charge and presents the church as open to visitors during its daily hours. How tall is the tower? About 56 metres, with four corner turrets.
-
Saint-Laurent Reformed Church
Lausanne
Saint-Laurent Reformed Church (Église Saint-Laurent) sits in the middle of Lausanne, in the canton of Vaud, on a pedestrian street in the main shopping district. It is a working Protestant church from the early 1700s, and its calm neoclassical front stands out among the shop windows around it. What is the history of Saint-Laurent? The present building dates from 1716–1719 and was designed by architect Guillaume Delagrange. It rose on the remains of a medieval church that had been left in ruins after 1536, when the Reformation took hold in Vaud. At the time it joined the cathedral and the church of Saint-François among the very few places of worship still in use in the city. During the Revolution, in the late 18th century, the interior became a venue for political meetings, notably of the "Amis de la Liberté". The decor of that era was unusual: statues of the generals Brune and Bonaparte, of William Tell and of Equality, plus an allegory inspired by Rousseau's Émile. What can you see here? The façade is the highlight. Rodolphe de Crousaz redesigned it in 1762–1763 in a neoclassical style, with fluted pilasters carrying a rounded pediment that projects strongly from the wall. The bell tower is built into the front rather than standing apart. Together they give the small square a solemn, almost ceremonial feel. The church is listed as a Swiss cultural property of national significance (category A). Inside, expect the plain, bright layout typical of a Calvinist temple. Visiting hours depend on services and parish events, so check ahead if you want to go in. How do you get to Saint-Laurent? The church stands at about 498 m above sea level on Rue Saint-Laurent, a few minutes on foot from Lausanne-Flon station (metro lines M1 and M2). The nearest tl bus stops are Bel-Air and Riponne–M. Béjart. There is almost no parking at the church itself; the closest car park is Riponne. Lausanne Cathedral is a short walk away. Frequently asked questions Is Saint-Laurent still an active church? Yes, it is a working Reformed church. Opening times follow services and events, so confirm before you visit. When was it built? The current building went up in 1716–1719, and the façade was reworked in 1762. The earlier medieval church had fallen into ruin after 1536. Is there an entrance fee? The sources list no admission charge, and you can view the façade freely from the square. Is it worth a short stop in the city centre? Yes. It lies in the pedestrian shopping zone near Flon and the cathedral, so it fits easily into a walk through the old town.
-
St. Anthony's church
Wettingen
St. Anthony's Church (St. Anton) in Wettingen is the Roman Catholic parish church at Antoniusstrasse 12 in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland. Zurich architect Karl Higi designed it, and it went up between 1952 and 1954. Exposed concrete defines the building, making it a good stop for anyone interested in postwar Swiss modernism. Why was a second parish founded here? Talk of a second parish in Wettingen began after the First World War, as workers from Baden's industries swelled the population. By 1932 the western districts, home to roughly 1,300 Catholics, had formed a parish of their own. The church itself followed some twenty years later. What does the exterior look like? The building is steep and elongated. A gently pitched gable roof reaches far out over the main facades, carried by two pairs of supports that mark off the narrow side aisles. Large windows with concrete ornament sit in the flanks of the choir and above the main entrance. A slender tower stands apart from the church, on the forecourt. What is inside? The interior is a three-aisled hall on slim concrete piers, leading to a taller, airy choir that ends in a flat apse. The gallery juts out from the wall as a cantilevered concrete slab. Six tapestries on the church year hang in the apse, designed by artists including Armin Brugisser, Ferdinand Gehr, Willi Helbling and Hans Stocker. Brugisser also made the Stations of the Cross (1985-1987). The church, the attached St. Anthony chapel and the rectory hold further works bought on the art market, among them a crucifix and a Pietà. Is it a listed monument? Yes. In 2007 the church entered the Aargau protected-monument inventory with priority B, meaning regional significance, and the protection covers the whole building. Its design was debated when it opened, and the interior was renovated in 2000. Peter Hoegger describes it in volume 7 of "Die Kunstdenkmäler des Kantons Aargau" (1995). How to plan a visit This is a working parish church, so visit outside service times and keep quiet during worship. Allow 15 to 30 minutes. Look at the light through the concrete-ornamented windows and at the tapestries in the apse. Wettingen borders Baden, so you can easily pair the visit with other sights nearby, such as Wettingen's Cistercian abbey. Frequently asked questions Who designed St. Anthony's Church in Wettingen? Karl Higi of Zurich. Construction ran from 1952 to 1954. Is the church protected? Yes. Since 2007 it has been in the cantonal monument inventory as a building of regional importance (priority B), with protection for the entire structure. What is it built from? The structure and the window ornament are exposed concrete. The roof is gently pitched, and the tower stands separately on the forecourt. Is the interior richly decorated? It is austere, but it contains six tapestries in the apse, Armin Brugisser's Stations of the Cross, and a crucifix and Pietà.
-
Waldau chapel (1491-1501)
Bern
Waldau Chapel in Bern is a late Gothic chapel built between 1491 and 1501, standing on Bolligenstrasse in the north-eastern part of the city. It began as the chapel of a leprosy hospital and today sits beside the main building of the Waldau University Psychiatric Clinic, where it also houses the Swiss Museum of Psychiatry. Where does the chapel come from? In 1491 the city of Bern moved its Siechenhaus, an infirmary for people with leprosy, from the Haspelgässchen lane in town out to the Breitfeld, within the parish of Bolligen. Work on the infirmary chapel (Siechenkapelle) started the same year and was finished by 1501, which explains the date range in the site's name. The new building replaced an earlier chapel that had had its own chaplaincy since 1365. The infirmary belonged to Bern's Great Hospital, now known as the Burgerspital, so the chapel served the residents of the home rather than nearby villages. How has it changed over time? After a fire the chapel was rebuilt and enlarged. The Bern building inventory gives 1683 for this work, while the psychiatry museum's chronicle says 1682. Another survivor of the old complex is the Siechenschlössli of 1599. The federal ISOS inventory of protected village and town sites lists both buildings in its entry for the Waldau area. Over the following centuries the grounds took on a new role, and a psychiatric hospital grew up around the former infirmary. The chapel remains one of the oldest buildings in the whole estate. What can you see? From outside you see the compact chapel set among the green grounds of the clinic. A short walk around the area lets you take in neighbouring historic hospital buildings. Inside, the Swiss Museum of Psychiatry documents how mental illness has been understood and treated in Switzerland. The visit therefore pairs architecture with the story of how care for the sick and outcast has changed from the Middle Ages to today. How do you get there? The chapel is on Bolligenstrasse in the Waldau district, a few kilometres from Bern's old town. You can reach it by public transport or by car, and the clinic grounds are open to walkers as a park. If you plan to visit the museum, check the current opening hours on the Swiss Museum of Psychiatry's website first, as it is not open every day. When should you go? Late spring to autumn is the best time, when the park around the clinic is green and dry weather suits a stroll. Allow about an hour, a little longer if you tour the museum. The chapel combines easily with a day in Bern: the UNESCO-listed old town in the morning, quieter Waldau in the afternoon. Who is it for? The chapel suits readers of medieval history, sacred architecture and the history of medicine. For other visitors it is a calm stop off the main routes that shows how Bern treated its sick and excluded five centuries ago. Frequently asked questions When was Waldau Chapel built? Construction began in 1491 and the chapel was complete by 1501. After a fire it was enlarged and rebuilt in 1682 or 1683, depending on the source. What was it originally used for? It was the chapel of a leprosy infirmary moved to the Breitfeld in 1491. The infirmary belonged to Bern's Great Hospital. What is inside today? The Swiss Museum of Psychiatry. The chapel stands next to the main building of the Waldau University Psychiatric Clinic. Where exactly is it? On Bolligenstrasse in Bern's Waldau district, north-east of the city centre.
-
Église Saint-Maurice
Le Landeron
Église Saint-Maurice in Le Landeron is the Catholic parish church of a medieval walled town in the canton of Neuchâtel, close to Lake Biel. It belongs to the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, and makes a natural starting point for a walk through one of western Switzerland's best-preserved small towns. Where is the church, and what is Le Landeron? The town sits on a moraine mound in the marshy Thielle plain, near the western end of Lake Biel. Count Rollin of Neuchâtel bought the meadow in 1325 and built the fortified town in 1328–1329. An earlier settlement called Nugerol had been destroyed after 1309. The old centre is listed in the Swiss federal inventory of heritage sites (ISOS) as a small town of national importance. What is the history of the parish? The dedication points to the abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune in the Valais. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland says that abbey founded the first parish church. Early in the 11th century it was acquired by the advocate Rodolphe, and the right to appoint the priest then changed hands several times: the counts of Neuchâtel, the abbey of Cerlier (Erlach) in 1231, Bern after the Reformation, and the state of Neuchâtel from 1827. In the Middle Ages two churches stood at Nugerol, and Saint-Maurice was one of them. The old building was pulled down in 1828, and only one chapel off its nave, the Chapelle du Scapulaire, survived. The present church dates from the 19th century and underwent a full restoration around 1986–1992, documented in the Swiss federal archives. What else is there to see nearby? Chapelle du Scapulaire. A confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was founded here in 1671. A vault keystone carries the town's arms and the date 1674. Recent work uncovered a polychrome decoration of 1683 beneath modern plaster, in Counter-Reformation Baroque style. After 1828 the chapel went to the Capuchins and served as a funeral chapel until 1922. Its Baroque altarpiece, with twisted columns and an Assumption of the Virgin, is now in the town hall museum. Saint-Maurice fountain. One of the town's fountains, with origins going back to 1574. Chapel of the Ten Thousand Martyrs. Consecrated in 1455, it stands within the old town. Musée de l'Hôtel de Ville. The town hall museum, which holds the altarpiece mentioned above. When should you visit? Go during the day, when the church is open to worshippers, and keep quiet during services. Le Landeron hosts one of Switzerland's largest antiques fairs (the brocante), held since 1973. The streets get crowded then, so choose another date for a calm visit. Frequently asked questions Is Saint-Maurice a Catholic church? Yes. It is the parish church, part of the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg. Does the medieval church still exist? No. It was demolished in 1828. Only the Chapelle du Scapulaire, a former side chapel, remains. Why is it named after Saint Maurice? The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland says the abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune founded the parish. How long does a visit take? A quarter of an hour covers the church and chapel. Allow about two hours with the fountains, the Chapel of the Ten Thousand Martyrs and a walk around the old town.
-
Alte Kirche Seebach
Zürich
Alte Kirche Seebach is a Baroque Reformed church in Zürich's Seebach district (Kreis 11), the city's northernmost quarter. Built in 1664, it remains the oldest church of a former farming village that became part of Zürich in 1934. What will you see at Alte Kirche Seebach? The building is plain and unadorned. It has a gabled roof and a slender ridge turret with a clock. A small porch was added to the front in 1811. The church sits raised above Seebacherstrasse in a green space held by a retaining wall, so its outline is easy to pick out from the street below. Next door stands the former schoolhouse of 1857, a late-Classicist two-storey building with regular rows of windows. An extension was added on its west side in 1942. Together, the church and the old school form the best-preserved piece of the former village centre, grouped around a fork in the road. What is the church's history? Before 1664, Seebach was split ecclesiastically: the Ausserdorf belonged to the parish of Kloten, and the Oberdorf to the parish of Rümlang. A chapel of St Nicholas, documented since 1370, stood on the Buhnrain hill. The Baroque church replaced it and joined both halves of the village, together with Affoltern, into a single parish. An independent Seebach church community followed only in the 19th century. The village itself is first recorded in 1212. For centuries it lived from farming, a little viticulture and cotton spinning done at home for city merchants. Industry and the railway turned it into a densely built-up district in the 19th and 20th centuries. What else is nearby? On the Buhnhügel stands the modern Reformed Markuskirche of 1947-48, an octagonal building with a freestanding bell tower. The Catholic church of Maria Lourdes, dating from 1935, is on Schaffhauserstrasse. Farmhouses from the 17th to 19th centuries survive along Ausserdorfstrasse. Seebach is listed in the federal ISOS inventory of protected village sites, and the Alte Kirche appears there as an individual element. How do you get there? Seebach has its own railway station, and city trams run through the district. It is a short public-transport ride from central Zürich. From the station, you walk through the old village core to the church. The coordinates are roughly 47.423 N, 8.543 E. Frequently asked questions When was Alte Kirche Seebach built? In 1664. The porch was added in 1811. What style is it? Simple Baroque, with a gabled roof and a slim clock turret. What stood here before? A chapel of St Nicholas, recorded from 1370. Is there another landmark close by? Yes. The old schoolhouse of 1857 stands right beside it, and the Markuskirche of 1947-48 is up on the hill.
-
Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche
Fällanden
Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche in Fällanden is the Reformed parish church of this village in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. It stands in the village centre on the north-eastern slope of the Pfannenstiel hills, a short way from Lake Greifensee. It makes an easy, quiet stop for anyone interested in the layered history of Swiss village churches. What is the history of the church? A chapel in Fällanden is first documented in 1271, and by 1317 it was dedicated to John the Baptist. In 1428 it was enlarged and consecrated as a parish church. It was rebuilt once more and reconsecrated in 1492. Patronage rights passed from the Grossmünster in Zurich to the municipality towards the end of the 15th century, and in 1552 the municipality handed them to the city for financial reasons. The cantonal heritage inventory treats the site as a church ensemble with parts dating from before 1271 up to 1933. Next to the church stands the parsonage (Pfarrhaus), built in 1692. What can you see? The church is best enjoyed from the outside, with a look inside when it is open. A restoration in 2000-2001 brought back part of the Gothic choir stalls and a fragment of a medieval wall-painting cycle, which had been removed from the south wall in 1920 and mounted on canvas. The surrounding ensemble, with the old parsonage, shows what the historic village core looked like. What is Fällanden like today? The municipality is a commuter community of Zurich with over 6,000 residents. In the 18th century most households lived from home spinning and weaving of cotton, and industry arrived late because the village had no railway. Large housing estates built after 1950 shaped its present character. How do you get there and when should you visit? Fällanden lies east of Zurich near Greifensee and is simple to reach by public transport or by car. Opening hours depend on the parish, so check the Reformierte Kirchgemeinde Fällanden for current information. Combine the visit with a walk along Greifensee or on the Pfannenstiel slopes. Frequently asked questions Is the church medieval? Yes. It grew from a chapel documented in 1271, enlarged in 1428 and rebuilt in 1492. Is there an entrance fee? No fee is documented. It is an active parish church. Is this the same as the Catholic church in Fällanden? No. The Catholic parish has its own church, dedicated to St Catherine of Siena. What else is nearby? The 1692 parsonage next door, plus Greifensee and the Pfannenstiel hills.
-
Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche Oberglatt
Oberglatt ZH
Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche Oberglatt is the Reformed parish church in the village centre of Oberglatt, canton of Zurich, and one of the best-known Swiss church buildings of the 1960s. Designed by architect Ernst Gisel in exposed concrete, it is listed in the canton's inventory of heritage objects of supra-municipal importance. How did the church come about? The congregation had long suffered from a lack of space and the absence of an organ. In 1954 voters rejected a first plan to rebuild the old church. Things changed in 1961, when a credit for a new building was approved after Ernst Gisel's sketch won over the authorities and voters. The previous church, dating from 1658, was demolished in 1962, and the foundation stone of the new one was laid on 3 November that year. The structural engineer was Dr E. Staudacher. The church was inaugurated on 6 September 1964. What can you see outside? The building rises over a square plan. A sloping roof falls from the tower towards the north and west and extends far beyond the walls, creating a covered walkway on the north and east sides, carried by a few concrete and metal supports. The roof is clad in Eternit. The tower in the south-east corner seems to grow out of the main body. It has six large, inward-angled openings that bring daylight into the chancel, with three bell chambers above and clock faces facing east and west. The south and east walls have very few windows, while the low north and west facades are almost entirely glazed. The roof reaches down towards the courtyard to blend with the village's farm buildings, and also echoes the tent symbolism common in church architecture of that time. What is the interior like? You enter the nave through a double door with red and violet enamelled leaves by Max Hellstern. Exposed concrete dominates inside, together with redwood panelling on walls and ceiling and a natural stone floor. The chancel is raised by three steps. The baptismal font and communion table are white marble, made by Piero Selmoni. The pulpit and the organ are also part of the protected fittings. A straight staircase along the south wall leads to the gallery, which rests on concrete columns. Where is it and what stands nearby? The church is at Rümlangstrasse 7, on the north side of the street that forms a triangle with Kirchrain and Bülachstrasse. The nave sits half a storey above street level, and several flights of steps lead to the two entrances: the main one on the west facade and a side one on the north. Next to it stand the vicarage from 1698 and the parish centre from 1989. Frequently asked questions Who designed the Oberglatt church? Ernst Gisel. It was his second church in the canton of Zurich, after Effretikon (1959-1961). When did the current church open? On 6 September 1964. The earlier church from 1658 was torn down in 1962. What is it built of? Mainly exposed concrete, with redwood inside and an Eternit roof. Can you visit the interior? Opening times are set by the parish, so check its website before your visit. The building and its canopy can be viewed from outside at any time.
-
Reformierte Kirche Langnau am Albis
Langnau am Albis
The Reformed Church in Langnau am Albis is an early 18th-century Baroque church in the municipality of Langnau am Albis, canton of Zurich, Switzerland. It still serves the local Protestant Reformed congregation. When was the church built? Langnau originally belonged to the parish of Thalwil. Around 1700 residents began pushing for their own parish, which would also mean their own school. Construction ran from 1709 to 1711, and the church was consecrated on Ascension Day 1711 together with the new parsonage. A commemorative booklet by P. Trüeb marked the 250th anniversary in 1961. What does it look like? It is a plain Baroque hall church: a single nave ending in a polygonal chancel. There is no conventional tower. Instead, a large roof turret on the north side carries a slender pointed spire. Two bells hang in the turret, along with the tower clock. The chancel windows were redone in an abstract style in 1999, a modern contrast to the modest historic shell. The most recent renovation took place in 2008. What is inside, and what about music? Reformed interiors are restrained, with no lavish altars; the focus is on preaching and music. Since 1973 the church has had an organ by the Mühleisen workshop of Strasbourg, with 19 stops, two manuals and pedals. Its predecessor, built by Kuhn in 1925, had 13 stops. It is worth checking the parish programme for concerts. How do you get there? Langnau am Albis lies in the Sihl valley south of Zurich, at the foot of the Albis ridge. From Zurich, take the S-Bahn towards the Sihl valley and walk a short distance to the village centre. The church stands at roughly 47.288 N, 8.535 E. When should you visit? This is a working church, so the easiest way inside is during services and parish events. Opening hours outside these times are not published in our sources, so ask the parish before you go. The exterior can be seen at any time, and a visit combines well with a walk in the Albis hills. Frequently asked questions When was the Reformed Church in Langnau am Albis built? Construction took place between 1709 and 1711, with consecration in 1711. Does the church have a tower? No. It has a large roof turret with a pointed spire, holding two bells and a clock. What organ does the church have? A 1973 instrument by Mühleisen of Strasbourg with 19 stops, two manuals and pedal. When was it last renovated? The last renovation was in 2008, and the chancel windows were redesigned in 1999.
Earn badges for the places you visit
Download NextOnTrip, discover new places and check off your trails.