Schlosskirche Niedergösgen

The castle churchThe history of the castle church Niedergösgen You may feel like many others - wondering about the exterior of the church and associating memories of a medieval castle with it. This external appearance of the church is closely related to the history of the building site. We would like to inform you briefly below about the history of the place and the construction as well as the art historical importance of the castle church.The knight's castle of Göskoner
Around 1230, Baron Gerhard von Göskon moved his headquarters from Ober- to Niedergösgen, which was still called Bözach at that time. As a construction site, he chose a rock spur against the Stift Werd (Schönenwerd). Then he had a castle built with a mighty keep. His descendants, however, were anything but noble knights. So they undertook several raids on the Stift Werd, although they actually had the patronage over it. Therefore, the Probst zu Werd always had to make representations to the Bishop of Strasbourg, under whose bastion the pen was located. As the line of Göskoner died out, the castle Göskon came by succession to the related house Falkenstein.Göskon goes to Solothurn
In the old Zurich War (1444), the castle was set on fire by the Solothurn and Bernese. They punished the then owner, Thomas von Falkenstein, who had recently invaded and cremated the town of Brugg. Only the keep survived the destruction more or less. For 8,200 guilders bought the Solothurn Thomas the rule Göskon from Thomas. 54 years after the destruction Solothurn rebuilt the castle as Vogteisitz. In 1659, the construction of a new castle chapel, which later served as the first parish church (today Christian Catholic church, above the castle church) followed. The most famous governors of Gösgen were Adrian von Bubenberg and Niklaus Wängi. When the French Revolution invaded Switzerland in 1798, the Niederamt was not spared. The advancing French chased the resident Vogt and set the castle on fire. What remained were some remains of the castle, the lower castle and the keep. For more than 100 years a wild and romantic castle has been enthroned on the Gösger Felssporn.From the knight's castle to the castle church
When at the end of the 19th century, as a result of the "Kulturkampf", many of the faithful split off from the Roman-Kkhol Church, this separation also took place in Niedergösgen. The former castle chapel, which had been parish church of Niedergösgen since 1838, now served as a church for the Christian Catholic as well as for the Roman Catholic parish. However, this inevitably led to arguments. As a result, the Roman Catholic parish began planning its own church, and as early as 1901, the parish congregation decided to purchase the old ruin Falkenstein at a price of 5,000 francs and build a church here. As an architect, the parish engaged the St. Gallen August Hardegger. He was then the most famous Catholic church builder in Switzerland. From him come significant historic buildings such as the parish church Kestenholz, St. Martin Olten or St. Otmar in St. Gallen. The construction of the castle church began in the spring of 1903. Already after 2 months, the erection of the roof truss was begun and after one year, on April 4, 1904, the parish was able to move into the church. On April 10, 1904 followed the bell consecration and on June 26, 1904, the organ consecration. Completion of the new church was the solemn inauguration of the castle church by Diocesan Bishop Leonard Haas on August 28, 1904.The renovations
Already in 1915, the castle church was subjected to a first interior renovation. This was necessary because the existing kerosene in the church room let the walls and the vault sink very fast. On the initiative of the then village pastor Caesar Haefeli not only the petroleum lighting was replaced by an electric, but the church interior was also immediately repainted. The most serious changes, however, brought the interior renovation of 1954. Thus, the vault and the walls were dipped in uniform white, shortened the side altars, the Stations of the Cross and many of the statues painted ivory and straightened the steps to the choir. The church also received a new electropneumatic organ as part of this renovation.The goal of the total renovation of the church completed in the summer of 1994 was to undo the interventions of the 1950s. Thus, the old color could be brought to light again and the chancel in its original form. In addition, disturbing installations were removed. On the other hand, the needs of today's liturgies should also be better taken into account. So the benches under the gallery were removed and the other rows of benches were replaced by new, oval ones. Altar, ambo, credenza table and baptismal font were also designed uniformly.A small tour through the castle church NiedergösgenKirchenäusseres
August Hardegger consciously reacted to the extraordinary situation by giving the church a defiant character on the prominent rocky outcrop with a massive exposed brickwork and the inclusion of the former keep. However, the native style of those years is also clearly expressed, for example in the Turmaubau and in the church roof. The 63 m high tower is perfectly integrated into the overall system and today houses 6 bells. With a total weight of around 15.42 tons, the bells of the castle church are among the largest in Switzerland. From the church forecourt, with the priest's graves, a generously designed staircase leads to the platform in front of the main entrance. Between the main entrance and the left side entrance a plaque is embedded in the wall. It recalls pastor Caesar Haefeli, who is considered the main initiator of church building. From the platform you can also enjoy a magnificent view. From here you can easily see the collegiate church in Schönenwerd and the castle courtyard below the castle church. The latter was extensively renovated in 1981 by the municipality and today houses, among other things, the local government.