Churches in the Simmental

Impressively renovated churches with fascinating stories can be found throughout the Simmental and are open to visitors.

Lenk Reformed Church Construction of the Protestant Reformed Church began on 9 May 1949. It replaced the church built after the village fire on 16 July 1878 and completed in 1881, which had to be demolished in 1949 due to the risk of collapse. In 2002, the bells were increased from four to five voices. In 2004, the church underwent a complete renovation. The following year, new windows were installed on the east and west fronts. Church of St. Stephan The medieval church with its 15th century church tower characterises the image of Bäuert Ried. The originally free-standing tower is divided into four storeys. The third storey is decorated with a baroque sundial. The church history of St Stephen's is extremely varied. If you would like to find out more, you can take part in a guided tour on request. Zweisimmen church Although the church in Zweisimmen was first mentioned in a document in 1228, it is in fact much older. This has been proven by excavations carried out during various renovation measures in recent decades. In Catholic times, it was a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Traces of Marian devotion can still be clearly seen today on the west gable (Annunciation scene on the outside and Coronation of the Queen of Heaven behind the organ) and in the interior on the south side (almost complete Marian cycle based on the apocryphal Gospel of St James). A canopy ceiling, which was completed on 15 August 1456 (Assumption of the Virgin Mary), covers the church interior. The east gable of the choir features a beautiful late Gothic rose window carving. Although the church is the centrepiece, the entire area with the church chapel, ossuary, church, parish hall and vicarage is well worth seeing and bears witness to the rich and varied history of the Zweisimmer parish. The church is open all day. Boltigen church A new church was built around 1510, probably replacing an originally smaller one. In July 1840, Boltigen church was destroyed by fire. The fire destroyed the tower along with the bells, the interior of the church was burnt out and valuable and rare stained glass windows were destroyed. The fire also spread to the vicarage and burnt the roof truss, destroying a number of parish registers and documents. The burgher rolls of all the burghers were destroyed. Oberwil church From 1524 to 1527, the preacher Moritz Meister worked in Oberwil in the spirit of the Reformation. The second depiction is a fragmentary donor painting in the area of the former monk's choir. The church's patron saint Mary with the infant Jesus can be seen in the centre. Kneeling at her feet is the founder, who can be identified as Provost Ulrich from the inscription band. Erlenbach church It is worth climbing the impressive wooden staircase from the village. From there, visitors are treated to a fascinating view over the village and the Simmental valley. As soon as you enter the church, you are surrounded by the unique murals in warm, brown and red colours.