Collegiate Church of St. Martin, church of the Benedictines of Muri-Gries Abbey in Sarnen in the canton of Obwalden
The Collegiate Church of St. Martin is a concrete church building in Sarnen constructed between 1964 and 1966, featuring modern architecture with clean lines and minimal ornamentation. The interior is bright and open, with white walls, wooden benches, a central altar area, and twelve small side altars arranged along a circular walkway that surrounds the main worship space.
The building was designed by young Zurich architect Ernst Studer and originally served the local Benedictine community and boarding school students. The monks needed a new prayer space as their previous location had become too small, and Bishop Johannes Vonderach officially opened the completed structure in 1966.
The building is named after Martin of Tours, a saint known for generosity and compassion. This dedication reflects its role as a gathering place for prayer and community, where local people come together to share spiritual moments and find connection.
The building is located on Brünigstrasse about a quarter mile (400 meters) south of Sarnen town center and is easily reachable on foot. Access is straightforward with a large wooden door at the entrance, and open green areas surround the building where visitors can view it from multiple angles.
The design was influenced by Le Corbusier's famous Notre-Dame-du-Haut chapel and includes an unusual seating arrangement where Benedictine monks and school students face each other across the space at angles rather than sitting side by side. This spatial arrangement creates a lively sense of unity rather than division between the two groups.
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