Chur Cathedral

Chur Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of the Assumption, stands on the Hof, the elevated cathedral precinct on the edge of Chur’s old town, beside the Bishop’s Palace. Chur is often called the oldest town in Switzerland, and its bishopric is one of the oldest north of the Alps, with a bishop recorded in the 5th century. The present cathedral is the result of a long building period, begun in the 12th century and consecrated in 1272, and it is a mix of late Romanesque and early Gothic styles, with later additions. It is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and remains the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Chur.

From outside, the cathedral looks restrained, with a solid stone exterior, plain towers and a quiet courtyard setting. The surprise is inside. The nave is a triple-aisled basilica with round arches and heavy piers that give it a sense of age and weight, and the choir area and crypt show how the building developed. The best-known object is the late Gothic high altar, carved in the late 15th century by Jakob Russ and richly gilded, which is regarded as the largest and most important carved altarpiece of its period in Switzerland. Its figures and scenes fill a tall frame across the end of the church and repay close study. The cathedral also holds carved choir stalls, sculpture and decorations from several centuries, and a crypt with old stonework.

The cathedral has been restored several times, with efforts focused on preserving the medieval fabric. Guided tours, offered as part of a city tour or as a dedicated visit, usually explain the history of the bishopric, the architecture and the altarpiece, and they are most often given in German, so check availability in other languages if you need them. A quiet visit also works well on your own. As this is a working church, services take place and may limit access, and visitors are asked to dress and behave respectfully.

The cathedral treasury is exhibited in a separate Cathedral Treasure Museum, the Domschatzmuseum, which is listed separately and holds liturgical objects, textiles and reliquaries from the diocese. The Hof also gives views down over the roofs of Chur, and the lanes of the old town and the Rhaetian Museum are a short walk away. Opening hours change with the liturgical calendar, so look up the current times before you go.

The cathedral suits history lovers, art and architecture fans and anyone who likes sacred spaces. Allow an hour for the cathedral itself, and more if you add the treasury and a walk through the old town.