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Chapel | Cultural offerings

From the gossip of St. Martin

Kapelle St. Martin
Kapelle St. Martin
Kapelle St. Martin
Kirche St. Martin in Baad
Kirche St. Martin in Baad
Hauptgang der Kapelle
Seitenteil der Kapelle
Kapelle St. Martin am Baader Höhenweg
Kulturweg: St. Martin

Factbox

  • This chapel, built in 1636, was located about 40 meters northwest of the old chaplain’s house, which lies just behind the present church. These were very difficult times, since the the Walser populace was suffering from a terrible plague and also had to cope with the great expenditures for defences against the Swedes. All the more do the achievements of the families in Baad deserve recognition – for building their own house of worship during these trying times. The auxiliary bishop Sigismund of Constance consecrated the chapel in honor of St. Martin, the Virgin Mary and St. Wendelin, in 1663.

    Already in 1711 Baad was given its own parish church, which was a relief for the parish priest from Mittelberg. The community of Hirschegg (from 1745 a parish church), along with the entire region to the left bank of the Breitach as far as the hamlet Schwende, and the parcels of land “Letze” and “Zwerwald” to the right of the Breitach, belonged to the parish of Mittelberg at that time. Following the wishes of the first curate, the chaplain’s house was built in 1714. When the church-goers began to linger around on the timbered porch at the front of the church, the so-called “Schwätzschopf” (gabbers’ or gossipers’ corner), the priest just simply had the construction removed.

    Success was achieved in making Baad into a parish of its own by Chaplain Franz Michael Feurstein in the years 1776 to 1782. Among other things, Feurstein earned lasting merit as the author of the “Baad Chronicle”. His valuable notes on the history and sociology of the community provide very much insight into those times. Jodok Heim (1751-1830) was an especially well-liked chaplain. He was the only Walser who received all of the seven sacraments (baptism, confirmation, confession, the Eucharist, ordination to the priesthood, marriage and extreme unction). Educated and very well-off, he married at the age of 23. In 1798 three of his six children, and his wife, died within 32 days of each other. These tragic events moved  him to begin theology studies with the Jesuits in Augsburg. In 1804 he celebrated his first mass in Riezlern.

    In 1851 the little church, which had been damaged by an avalanche, was torn down, and a new, larger one was built at the present location. On 21 June 1851 it was consecrated by the auxiliary bishop Georg Prünster. On that day about three meters of snow lay on the road to Baad, on the  plot of land called  Vorderboden. The church, true to the period architecture of the middle of the 19th century, was built in a classicistic style. The altar piece, a work by the artist Xaver Bobleter from the town of Feldkirch, depicts the church patron St. Martin. To the right and left of the altar stand the figures of the Walser saints Theodul and Barbara, dating from the year 1670. The pictures on the side altars – of Maria and Wendelin – are works by Deschwandens (1856). Dating from the 18th century, a crucifix with three putti adorns the choir arch.

    Presented by: Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen
    Author: Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen

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