Würzbrunnen church, Medieval church in Röthenbach im Emmental, Switzerland
Würzbrunnen church is a stone structure in the Emmental region standing at about 957 meters elevation, featuring late Gothic architecture with a white exterior and a prominent bell tower. The building combines traditional sacred architecture with local construction methods characteristic of Swiss mountain communities.
A major fire in 1494 destroyed the medieval structure and prompted a complete rebuild in the form seen today. This disaster marked the transition from an earlier wooden church building that had stood since the early 12th century.
The interior walls display 18th-century decorations featuring biblical verses that reflect the Protestant faith traditions of the time. These painted passages show how the community expressed its religious beliefs through the decoration of this sacred space.
Visitors should note that the church sits in a mountain setting where road conditions can vary with the season. It is best to check ahead about current access conditions and opening times before making the visit.
A charred piece of wood from the 1494 fire is preserved in a niche on the northern exterior wall, serving as a tangible reminder of the building's fiery past. This fragment stands as one of the few surviving physical traces of the historic disaster.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
