Katholische Kirche St. Martin, Catholic church in Altdorf, Switzerland.
Katholische Kirche St. Martin is a baroque church in Altdorf with three levels and a portico at the entrance portal. The elaborate southern facade faces toward the town center and forms part of the local skyline.
The structure was built between 1602 and 1606 according to plans by architect Rocco Ruggia and was the first early baroque church in German-speaking Switzerland. This architecture significantly influenced church construction in the region afterward.
The church displays classical interior elements, including barrel vaults, original stucco work, and ceiling paintings depicting scenes from Saint Martin's life. These artistic details from the 17th century continue to shape the character of the interior space today.
The building contains seven bells that ring during holidays, creating an acoustic landmark for the town. Many of these bells date back to castings from the 19th century.
During renovations from 1965 to 1971, archaeologists discovered four predecessor buildings on this site. The oldest one dated back to the third quarter of the 7th century.
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