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St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Sempach

St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Sempach

Highlight • Religious Site

St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Sempach

Name: St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Sempach
Rating: 2

Recommended by 14 hikers

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Location: Lucerne, Switzerland

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Best Hikes to St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Sempach

4.4

(8)

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1. Sempach Old Town – Sempach Town Hall loop from Sempach

3.61km

00:55

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.5

(6)

131

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2. Sempachersee Lakeside Walk – Sempach Old Town loop from Sempach

3.78km

00:58

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.7

(6)

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3. Sempach Old Town – Sempach Lakeside Path loop from Sempach

8.05km

02:08

70m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

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Paul

November 17, 2024

St. Stephan's Catholic Church, Sempach
The town church was built in 1831 in a classicist style.
New construction and renovations
At the end of the 18th century, the old town church was in a very dilapidated state, and a report by the master carpenter Josef Ritter and the master builder Niklaus Purtschert in 1803 showed that repairs were impossible, whereupon the Sempach parish decided to build a new church in 1804. The old church was demolished in 1832. Rejected proposals, the death of the intended master builder (Josef Purtschert), disputes about the location of the new church, questions of financing by all church members and economic downturns (year without a summer, famine year 1816/1817) delayed the start of the new construction until the end of the 1820s. The new church was finally built in a classicist style according to plans by the Händli brothers and Jost Kopp. The location is typical of the change in urban development at the beginning of the 19th century: the church building broke through the medieval ring walls, while at the same time the area in front of the church was used to create a sense of space. The church was consecrated on August 27, 1831. The interior of the church was last renovated in 1968/1969. Its current external appearance is the result of the external renovation carried out in 2000.
The interior of the church
The stucco work, high and side altars and the pulpit are the work of the Vorarlberg master builders Johann and Josef Moosbrugger (1830–1832). The three figures on the west facade are by Josef Amberg, Büron, and the altarpieces were painted by Franz Menteler from Zug (1831/32). The high altar panel shows an impressive crucifixion, the upper panel the patron saint of the church, St. Stephen, next to them are the princes of the apostles Peter and Paul. The right side altar shows the Easter scene, with St. Martin in the medallion, the left side altar the Assumption of Mary and St. Joseph in the upper panel. The oval pulpit bears medallions with the parable of the sower and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. In 1963/64 the cemetery was redesigned and the mortuary hall built, and in 1967 the bells were extended.
The contact details for a reservation can be found on the Sempach parish website.
Text / Source: Sempach City Council, Stadtstrasse 8, 6204 Sempach
sempach.ch/sehenswuerdigkeiten

Translated by Google •

Claudia

June 15, 2025

Beautiful church in Sempach

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 560 m

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Thursday 23 October

14°C

6°C

100 %

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Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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Location: Lucerne, Switzerland

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St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Sempach

1. Sempach Old Town – Sempach Town Hall loop from Sempach

2. Sempachersee Lakeside Walk – Sempach Old Town loop from Sempach

3. Sempach Old Town – Sempach Lakeside Path loop from Sempach

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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