The Waltensburg Church and Gothic in Canton Graubünden

10 September 2024

The church in Waltensburg, or Vuorz in Romansh (Canton Graubünden), was built in the 12th century—the frescoes on the interior and exterior walls date from four periods.

The oldest paintings (ca. 1330) were made by an artist known as the Waltensburger Master. He decorated churches and at least one secular building (Brandis castle in Maienfeld) in Grisons.

Frescoes in the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene in Paspels, the churches of St. George (Sogn Gieri) and St. Paul (Sogn Paul) in Rhäzuns, the Cathedral of Chur and religious buildings in Clugin, Casti, Zillis, Lüen and Luziensteig are all attributed to this Master.

This painter is considered one of the most remarkable artists from the High Gothic north of Lombardy, although nothing is known about him.

(Source: H. F. Rupp (Red.), Der Waltensburger Meister in seiner Zeit, Chur, 2015)

Impressions