The drama in the Kirchdorf church

From the Gerzensee, Post stop, follow the signpost towards Kirchdorf, past the “new castle” over the scenic moraine ridge and reach Kirchdorf. Gerzensee may be a bit better known, but Kirchdorf is also listed in the Federal Inventory of Heritage Sites and is worth a stopover. Especially the area around Kirchhügel is very picturesque. The church holds a dramatic history. The current building is relatively young. The predecessor was used in the cold winter of 1871 like many others for housing interned soldiers of the Bourbaki army. 224 soldiers slept in the Kirchdorf church. Because they were cold, they moved their straw bedding closer to the stove. On the night of February 27th, the straw caught fire and a devastating blaze completely destroyed the church. In 1874 the new church was consecrated. The building was partly financed with French compensation but ultimately cost almost twice as much as originally estimated. Before heading west along the hiking trail, it’s worth walking around the church to take in the unique location. Also worthwhile is a detour to the Ochsen inn and the “Chefiturm.” Here Kirchdorf especially reveals the harmonious ensemble of its original buildings. You leave Kirchdorf following the hiking trail via Büttstein, then descend through the old cart path with a pretty hollow way passage into the plain and cross the Gürbetal. Once you reach the Gürbe, it’s worth leaving the marked trail and continuing right along the Gürbe. After a few hundred meters you reach the next bridge. On hot days, the shady Gürbebad bathing spot in Thurnen invites you to swim. The Thurnen train station is just a few steps away. Here you encounter another witness from the past: the protected porch was built in 1905. Here the horse-drawn carriage waited to take guests from the train to the Gurnigel bath. Simon Johner