St. Moritz mountain church (Hallau)

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St. Moritz mountain church, above Hallau
Aerial view
inside view

The St. Moritz mountain church is the landmark of the wine-growing village of Hallau in the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen . The church, built in the late Gothic style in 1491 , is dedicated to Saint Mauritius and is typical of the architectural style around Lake Constance at the time .

location

The church stands on a ledge of the Hallauerberg, the largest vineyard in Eastern Switzerland , above Hallau. Due to its elevated position, the church is in the focus of the entire Klettgau . The choice of the hill followed the tradition of other Klettgau churches and was probably also due to the fact that it met the churchgoers in Oberhallau halfway. Originally the church served both the population of Unterhallau (today Hallau) and the population of Oberhallau. The church separation of the two parishes only took place in 1713, after the population in the parishes was too large to go to the same church.

history

A letter from Otto von Sonnenberg , Bishop of Constance from 1474 to 1491 , to Pope Innocent VIII gives information about the determination of the building site for the mountain church .

The church, built in 1491, quickly developed into a popular pilgrimage church. The church received the nimbus of a place of pilgrimage because of supposed miraculous healings by St. Mauritius and his relics . The miracle myth was reinforced by the Alemannic grave finds uncovered during the construction of the church , since the buried were interpreted as fallen youths of the Theban Legion led by Mauritius . The three keystones of the choir vault also point to the Mauritius legend. With the beginning of the Reformation in 1529, the pilgrimage ended abruptly. In keeping with the spirit of the Reformation, the interior of the church was removed. Nothing was changed in the building fabric.

Inscription from 1599 on the new south wall of the church

The growing population made an expansion necessary in 1598/99. It was to remain the most profound remodeling in the history of the Church. The south wall was moved five meters to the south. The extension considerably disrupted the previous harmonious division of the late Gothic room. The large south portal from 1491 was replaced by two new portals with round arches. At the former portal there was a thorn-crowned Christ's head, which is now in the collection of the Hallau local museum . The roof turret above the choir and the bell were removed, as were the stepped gables and corner cubes on the tower. Numerous renovations followed between the 17th and 19th centuries. In 1888, thanks to a legacy, some colored choir windows could be used. The colored church windows on the east and south sides were installed during the renovation in 1920. In 1940 the gallery was removed and an organ from Haslital was installed in the choir.

Because of its art history and historical importance, the church was declared an Art Monument of National Importance in 1974 . Between 1976 and 1978 it was thoroughly restored with cantonal and federal financial aid. The inauguration took place on August 27, 1978. The aim of the restoration was to restore the church to its original shape. The excavations carried out inside the church brought new knowledge about the early history of Hallau.

use

View of the organ

The St. Moritz mountain church is regularly used for church services by the evangelical reformed parish of Hallau. Classical concerts are also held here on a regular basis. Its location makes the mountain church a popular wedding church.

organ

The organ in the style of an Italian baroque organ was built in 1978 by the organ builder Theodor Kuhn and completely overhauled in July 2013 by Markus Wagenbach, Orgelbau Kuhn. The slider chests -instrument has 13 registers on a manual and pedal . The playing and stop actions are mechanical. The organ has a mechanical combination based on the system of the organ builder Serassi and is tempered unevenly.

I Hauptwerk C – g 3
1. Principale Bassi Soprani 8th'
2. Voce umana 8th'
3. Flauto Bassi Soprani 8th'
4th Ottava 4 ′
5. Flauto Ottava 4 ′
(Continuation)
6th Cornetto III 2 2 ⁄ 3  ′
7th Quinta Decima 2 ′
8th. Decima Nona 1 1 ⁄ 3  ′
9. Vigesima Seconda 1'
10. Vigesima Sesta e Nona II
Pedals C – f 1
11. Bassi pedals 16 ′
12. Priincipale pedals 8th'
13. Ottava pedals 4 ′

literature

  • Albin Hasenfratz, Kurt Bänteli: The archaeological investigations in the Hallau mountain church . In: Schaffhauser Contributions to History . Volume 63, Thayngen 1986, pp. 7-125.
  • History of Hallau. Hallau 1991, pp. 26-28.
  • Johann Georg Pfund: The Hallauer Bergkirche St. Moritz . Hallau 1893.
  • Hermann Wanner: Mountain Church St. Moritz Hallau . Hallau 1984.

Web links

Commons : Bergkirche St. Moritz  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ History of Hallau . Hallau 1991, p. 361.
  2. ↑ More information about the organ on the website of the organ builder
  3. ↑ Internet offer of the Reformed Church Community Hallau, Oberhallau http://www.ref-sh.ch/kg/hallau-oberhallau/bergkirche

Coordinates: 47 ° 42 '8.6 "  N , 8 ° 27' 39.8"  E ; CH1903:  six hundred seventy-six thousand seven hundred and forty-two  /  284030