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Church · Chur, Grisões
Martinskirche
Gothic church of São Martinho, a symbol of Chur's old town, with its pointed tower and the three stained-glass windows by Augusto Giacometti in the choir.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Martinskirche
The church of São Martinho is on Martinsplatz, in Chur's old town, at the foot of the bishop's quarter. First mentioned around the year 800, it is, together with the cathedral, the oldest church in the city. The building you see is late Gothic, rebuilt after the great fire that destroyed the center in 1464, and its pointed tower is the symbol of the old town.
With the Reformation in the 16th century, São Martinho became Chur's main Protestant church, and today it is the largest Reformed church in the canton of Grisões. The interior is restrained, as in Reformed churches, with Gothic vaults and few images.
The reason to visit is the choir windows, made between 1917 and 1919 by the painter Augusto Giacometti, who was born in Grisões. They are three windows with Nativity scenes in intense reds, blues and golds that change with the daylight. Giacometti also made stained glass for churches in Zürich, and the ones in Chur are among his best known.
In the square in front is the São Martinho fountain, and from there the pedestrian streets of the old town radiate.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
15 to 30 minutes.
Best time
On a sunny day, in the late morning, when the light passes through the choir windows. During services, visits are limited.
How to get there
It's on Martinsplatz in the old town, about a 10-minute walk from the train station.
Tip
Stay a few minutes in the choir: with the light coming in, the reds and blues of Giacometti's windows fill the whole church.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Martinskirche
Who made the stained-glass windows of the church of São Martinho in Chur?
The painter Augusto Giacometti, between 1917 and 1919. There are three windows in the choir depicting Nativity scenes.
Is the church of São Martinho Catholic?
No. Since the Reformation in the 16th century it has been Chur’s main Protestant church. The cathedral, in the bishop’s quarter, is the Catholic one.
Where is the church of São Martinho?
On Martinsplatz, in the old town, about a 10-minute walk from the station.