4132 MuttenZ Dorfkirche St., Arbogast
Fortified Church of St. Arborgast
"Muttenz (Swiss German: Muttez) is a municipality with a population of approximately 17,000 in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland. It is located in the district of Arlesheim and next to the city of Basle." (Link 1.)
"The Fortified Church of St. Arbogast (German: Wehrkirche St. Arbogast) in the municipality of Muttenz in the Swiss canton of Basel-Land is the only church in Switzerland that is surrounded by a defensive wall. It is an example of the fortified church type of construction, and is a Swiss heritage site of national significance[1]
"The fortified church of St. Arbogast, serving the local evangelical community, was built in the late Middle Ages. Its surrounding seven metre tall ramparts built in the 15th century are still intact. A charnal house was built adjoining the church in the 15th century. Wall paintings made in 1513 were painted over following the Protestant Reformation, but were restored during a complete renovation in the 1970s.[2][3]Today's congregation forms part of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton Basel-Landschaft. (Link 2.)
Clock Steeple
"The fortified church of St. Arbogast, serving the local evangelical community, was built in the late Middle Ages. Its surrounding seven metre tall ramparts built in the 15th century are still intact. A charnal house was built adjoining the church in the 15th century. Wall paintings made in 1513 were painted over following the Protestant Reformation, but were restored during a complete renovation in the 1970s.[15][16] Muttenz was awarded the Wakker Prize for architectural preservation by theSwiss Heritage Society in 1983.
"The church is listed as a heritage site of national significance, as is the medieval village core." (Link 1.)
Charnel House
"St. Arbogast is the last completely intact fortified church in Switzerland. The church is still in active use and serves as Evangelical-Reformed parish church of Muttenz
"The history of this church dates back to the 5th century when a wooden church was built, maybe on the foundation wall of a abandoned Roman building. A first stone church of the 8th or 9th century was replaced by a newer building around 1000, and in the 12th century a church in Romanesque style was built but stayed unfinished. Finally the earthquake of 1356 demolished substantial parts of the church.
"After 1359 the church was repaired and completed. In 1420 it was enclosed with a seven meters high curtain wall with battlements and two gate towers to serve the residents of the village as a refuge in times of danger, since the old castles on the nearby Wartenberg were also partially destroyed in the earthquake.
"The charnel chapel was built in the 2nd half of the 15th century at the inside of the southern wall. It is a two storey building with a lateral external staircase to the upper floor. In 1513 the building was provided with paintings on the facade and the interior; they were painted over after the Reformation and were rediscovered during renovation work in the 20th century. (Link 3.)
"The history of this church dates back to the 5th century when a wooden church was built, maybe on the foundation wall of a abandoned Roman building. A first stone church of the 8th or 9th century was replaced by a newer building around 1000, and in the 12th century a church in Romanesque style was built but stayed unfinished. Finally the earthquake of 1356 demolished substantial parts of the church.
"After 1359 the church was repaired and completed. In 1420 it was enclosed with a seven meters high curtain wall with battlements and two gate towers to serve the residents of the village as a refuge in times of danger, since the old castles on the nearby Wartenberg were also partially destroyed in the earthquake.
"The charnel chapel was built in the 2nd half of the 15th century at the inside of the southern wall. It is a two storey building with a lateral external staircase to the upper floor. In 1513 the building was provided with paintings on the facade and the interior; they were painted over after the Reformation and were rediscovered during renovation work in the 20th century. (Link 3.)
***************
Photos: Taken by RW with his i Phone while living in Basel Switzerland.
Link 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortified_Church_of_St._Arbogast
Link 3: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMJH9Y_Beinhaus_at_St_Arbogast_Muttenz_BL_Switzerland
Prayer
God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)
