Church of St. Zeno, Ladir

The high altar in the choir is of baroque origin and was probably built around 1700. The middle section with the lively portrait of the patron is framed by two shimmering gold twisted columns. The high altar used to look different. The two wings of the late Gothic altar have been moved to Zurich. In a room of the Swiss National Museum you can admire the altar wings, which are probably almost half a millennium old. They depict John the Baptist and Saint Lucius as well as Mary Magdalene and Saint Barbara with their symbols.The church tower was built in 1901. The lime for the construction was burned here. The material was transported using draft animals in countless hours of forced labor. Three of the four bells were also bought. On November 22nd, 1901, they were brought from Bonaduz to Ilanz by horse.The transport from Ilanz to Ladir was more difficult, as the road had not yet been built. All the men from Ladir and 9 from Ruschein helped with ropes, pushing and holding to bring the heavy load to Ladir. The large bell weighs 1270 kg. The church has been under federal protection since 1964. Until 1972, the clock faces on the tower were only painted on. Then a real clock was installed on the village side.

The church is located on the outskirts of Ladir. Thanks to its elevated position, you have a great view of Chur and Disentis from here. It is also worth taking a look inside the magnificent church interior.

The church stands at the entrance to the village like a watchman over hill and valley. It is dedicated to Saint Zeno, the patron saint of Verona.
The legend of Saint Zeno (Sogn Sein): According to legend, he once traveled through this still wild mountain region and preached to the pagan inhabitants with such zeal that they accepted Christianity. The saint stayed in Ladir and the believers in Ladir consecrated a church in his honor. Saint Zeno stayed in Ladir for a long time and from here went up and down the valley to proclaim the gospel. But the devil was jealous of the saint's success and sought to hinder the work of conversion, possibly even driving the believers into the kingdom of darkness. But faith in the Savior was too deeply rooted for the holy work to be destroyed by cunning. Satan had to resort to violence. The building of the church in Ladir had just begun, so the spirit of darkness thought to destroy this work of the believers, and brought a large stone from the bed of the Rhine, which he carried up the forest and with which he intended to destroy the church. On the way he rested, laying the load next to him and himself under a fir tree. As he was resting, Saint Zeno came down from the forest to preach in the plain. Immediately seeing the evil one and recognizing the presence of the large stone block that had never been in this place as Satan's intention, he knelt down on the stone, prayed and took away the power of Luciferus, who was enraged by this, to lift the stone further, and even forced the evil one to leave the area with his prayers, so that he could leave him, the saint and his believers in peace.This stone of Saint Zeno (Crap da Sogn Sein) is located above Schluein, on the edge of the old road that connects Ladir with Schluein. Two depressions are visible on the top, as if a person had knelt in this stone mass. Many Ladir residents and others have placed a freshly picked pine branch in the hollow as they pass by, even today.