Chapel Sontgaclau e Sogn Valentin, Vattiz

Keys available from Silvia Caduff, tel. 0041 81 931 15 61.

This octagonal, detached church with its hexagonal tower, of which almost nothing is known about its construction history, immediately catches the eye of every visitor. Fortunately, the tin roof of the dome was replaced with larch shingles during the last renovation in 1981 by architect Peter Zumthor.

The interior (3) has no actual choir. The stucco altar (4) is accentuated by two black columns. The altarpiece shows the two chapel patrons Nicholas and Valentine as bishops. The Mother of God and her child hover above them. In the dome, an unknown artist painted the Descent from the Cross around 1700 (5). The walls with the twelve apostles' crosses are decorated with life-size figures of the church patron saints Valentine (6) and Nicholas (7), who is carrying the three golden globes. St. Anthony of Padua and an unknown Capuchin monk complete the group. Neck angels (8) carry their pedestals.

Text and photos: Walter Müller (wmueller@hispeed.ch) in collaboration with Surselva Tourism