St. Martin Parish Church, Schwyz

St. Martin Parish Church, Schwyz
The present-day St. Martin Parish Church is the work of the brothers Jakob and Johann Singer from Lucerne, originally from Tyrol. The building owners signed a construction contract with them in 1763 for a total sum of 20,000 guilders.Exterior
In contrast to the interior, the building is cubically austere, compact, and clearly structured by pilasters with capitals. The exterior is characterized by the colors gray, light gray, and white. On the long side, the gable top with oval windows marks the transept. The large, pointed-arch windows, the three-part semicircular openings, and the four side portals (doors with Rococo carvings) set clear accents. The west façade, with its richly structured vestibule and main portal (Rococo cartouche in the arch apex), closes off Herrengasse like a bar.
Text / Source: Schwyz Parish Office, Herrengasse 22, 6430 Schwyz
kirchgemeinde-schwyz.ch/pfarrei/schwyz/schwyz-pfarrkirche-st-martin-schwyz

Tower
The base of the tower dates from 1481. The bell chamber has large sound holes, above which the clock faces are mounted in gable tops. The gargoyles in the shape of dragon heads date from earlier times. The spire tapers to an octagonal lantern dome into a needle-pointed pyramid. On the roof above the apse sits a hexagonal turret, crowned by a small Madonna.Surroundings
A plaque on the southern wall of the church commemorates the old cemetery on the church grounds, commemorating Landammann Alois von Reding (1765-1818, victor of Rothenthurm, opponent of the centralism of the Helvetic Republic, first Landammann of Switzerland) and a memorial stone at the entrance to the former Betschart crypt. The staircase leading to the village square was redesigned in 1859 and 1889.
Text / Source: Schwyz Parish Office, Herrengasse 22, 6430 Schwyz
kirchgemeinde-schwyz.ch/pfarrei/schwyz/schwyz-pfarrkirche-st-martin-schwyz

nice village tour + museum