Parish church Gantschier

Gantschier, the part of Bartholomäberg down by the river Ill between Schruns and Vandans, got its church late. After a temporary church of 1955, Bishop Bruno Wechner laid the foundation stone in 1960, and at Christmas 1964 the church dedicated to St Joseph the Worker was consecrated. Schruns architect Werner Pfeifer designed two volumes offset against each other under mono-pitch roofs and a free-standing, campanile-like bell tower. Light enters through concrete-glass windows designed in 1962 by the Peruvian-Austrian artist Adolfo Winternitz; the bronze doors are by Susana Polac. Among them stand older pieces: Baroque figures of Saints Nicholas and John of Nepomuk from the Witwer workshop (1790) and a crucifix by Johann Ladner from about 1770. The organ was built by Mathis of Näfels in 2013, and the following year a Sacred Heart bell weighing 1,028 kg was added. Ecclesiastically Gantschier is a special case: only in 2013 was it raised to the 126th and thus youngest parish of the Diocese of Feldkirch.

From our house it is 12.1 km or 15 minutes; bus 641 stops at the church. If you like modern sacred architecture, combine Gantschier with the tent church in Vandans and the Latschau church – three 1960s buildings within a few kilometres.

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026