Priory Church

The various remnants such as the foundations and a crypt completely filled up show that the beginning of the church was in the 12th century, during the founding period of the Gestelnburg.

The present church has its origins in the 16th century. The striking church tower “Käsbissenturm”, the only of its kind in the Valais, is also attributed to the famous architect of sacred buildings Ulrich Ruffiner. In the 19th century the church was significantly remodeled for the first time and was given today’s visible structure.

It exist a nice legend  regarding the selection of the place of the church (Augustin Imboden): "It was said that they first wanted to build the church of Niedergesteln together with Eischoll beyond the river Rotten. They also started with the fundaments. But at night the instruments disappeared, three  times subsequently. Since they were found again at the place of the today’s church, people considered it a harbinger of God. Also the guards placed at the site during night observed nothing strange. Therefore they built the church at its present location below the castle rock."