Chur - St. Luzius

St. Lucius, today part of a theological seminary, looks very modern, but is not. The tower seen here was erected in 1937, as the medieval tower burnt down in 1811. A church is known here already since about 400, but probably after 730 a Carolingian church with three apses was built, as a burial place for the local nobility. It was dedicated to Luzius of Chur a legendary saint, who may have been a former King of Brittany or an early Bishop of Chur.

This church was handed over in 1140 to the Premonstratensians (aka "Norbertines"), founded in Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert (aka Norbert of Xanten). The Premonstratensians rebuilt and enlarged the existing the church in Romanesque style. Around 1500 the church got a new Gothic vaulting.