Mountain church of Gargellen

Gargellen sits at 1,423 m at the head of the Gargellen valley, and its church of St Mary Magdalene carries the turbulent history of a border village. Endowed by Peter Lentsch, it was built from 1611 and destroyed in 1622 during the incursion of the Prättigau people from neighbouring Graubünden; only in 1644 could the Bishop of Chur consecrate it. Between 1791 and 1793 it was lengthened and given its churchyard and the present tower. Inside, note the right-hand side altar by David Bertle from 1674, frescoes by Anton Marte (1909), stained glass from the Tyrolean glass-painting workshop and, on the porch, a sundial with a fresco of the Virgin by Konrad Honold (1958). The avalanche winter of 1999 damaged the roof so badly that the roof structure had to be renewed – and in the process an overpainted 18th-century ceiling fresco above the high altar came to light again.

From our house it is 10.5 km or 12 minutes along the Gargellen road; by bus, take the 650 to St. Gallenkirch and change to the 670. In season, Mass is on Saturdays at 5 pm (as of 2026). We like to combine the church with the via ferrata through the Röbisch gorge, the Schafberg cable car or a coffee in the village.

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026