Fraumunster Church is a prominent landmark that you will easily find in the skyline of Zurich. It is a lovely mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture. Located in the historic city center of Zurich, its lovely blue steeple matches perfectly with the turquoise Limmat river flowing nearby.
Fraumunster Church should not be compared to other European Catholic churches. Its interior is subtle and not over the top like other churches in Europe. You may find it to be really simple. But you should definitely go inside because it is an important part of the history of Zurich. And you can have a quiet contemplative moment in a corner.
History of Fraumunster Church
When I heard the history of the Fraumunster church I was amazed. This church was the seat of power of the aristocratic women in the old medieval times. Fraumünster in English means Women’s minster. The Church you see today is built on the remains of an abbey. The abbess had the power to collect toll, hold markets and mint money for many years. Thus, making her the ruler of the city. Elisabeth of Wetzikon is said to be the most powerful abbess who ruled from here. During her time this abbey was at its height of prosperity, having properties in Central Switzerland and complete control over Zurich.
But in the 14th century, her political power ended after the first independent mayor was appointed. The abbey was later dissolved and the buildings were destroyed. The church building you see today is built on the ruins of this ancient abbey. Moreover, Fraumunster Church is one of the main churches in Zurich along with other churches like – Grossmünster Church, Predigerkirche and St Peter’s Church.
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Marc Chagall’s Stained Glass Windows
As soon as you walk into the Fraumunster Church you will notice the beautiful colors in which the main choir is bathed. After you walk across the church and come closer to the choir, you will see the 5 stained glass windows. This is the main attraction of Fraumunster Church. There are some benches around where you can sit and admire these paintings.
Marc Chagall the Russian French artist from Belarus has painted these stained glass windows. He has created art in many forms like paintings, stained glass, stage sets, ceramic tapestries, etc. And you can find these all around Europe.
The 5 Marc Chagall’s windows at Fraumunster Church depict different stories from the bible. Each of them has a different colour and theme. They represent stories of Prophets, Jacob, Christ, Zion and Law from left wall to the right wall.
Even if you arent a Christian or have no idea what these stories are, these large sized stained glass windows will not disappoint you. As sunlight filters in through the windows in various shades, you will get mesmerized by the scale of art involved.
Another significant piece of art is a stained glass window in the northern part of the Church. It is called the heavenly paradise and its painted by Augusto Giacometti. It is located just opposite from the Chagalls windows behind the Church organ.
The Organ
After walking around the choir as you come out, on the opposite side of the choir is the Organ, in all its glory. It has a total of 5793 pipes making it the largest organ in the whole of Zurich. You can hear its sound at the free concerts. It is powerful but not deafening. And its acoustics are truly amazing. But I didn’t get to hear that in my short time in Zurich.
Old foundation stone of the abbey
After you climb a few steps down, under the choir of Fraumunster church, is the cryptic musuem. This is the oldest part of the church. The original foundation stone of the ancient abbey is still well preserved here. Moreover, there are some holy relics from the old times of the abbey, along with handwritten letters, etc which tell the story of history and architecture of Fraumunster church.
Fraumunster Church Hours and Rules
- March to October – 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
- November to February – 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
- On Sundays – Service in German starts at 10.00 am and Church opens for visitors at noon.
- They allow guided tours inside in whisper Mode only
- They do not allow photography inside the Church
Fraumunster Church Entry Fees
Entry fee is 5 CHF/EUR/USD for visitors. They also give the crypt brochure and audio guides at the entrance.
FAQs about Fraumunster Church
Fraumünster church, Grossmünster Church, Predigerkirche and St Peter’s Church.
Fraumünster Church is located in the historic city center in Zurich, Switzerland.
