Alvaschein - St. Peter Mistail

St. Peter Mistail is the church of a former nunnery, located very secluded near the entrance to the "Schinschlucht", a 9kms long gorge. The building is (one of only two) Carolingian "three apses"-churches in Switzerland (Muestair is the second). It is known since 823, when it was mentioned in a letter to Louis the Pious.

The nunnery existed here upto 1154. the church is owned by the parish of Alvaschein since the 14th century. The buildings of the convent got lost over the centuries.

Archeologists proved in the 1960s/1970s, that the existing church was erected on the foundations of an even older one around 800. Even some Carolingian frescoes were found. That means it is about as old as the buildings in Muestair.

The frescoes seen inside the church today are not Carolingian, but younger. A few older traces can be found behind the altar. The frescoe in the central apse is dated to the early 14th century and is Gothic.

I am not sure about the frescoes on the northern wall, seen here. They differ clearly in style from the Gothic frescoes - and may be older than 14th century, but otoh the style reminds me on some late Byzantine icons from the Balcan. Sant Christopher is really huge. He is standing in a a river. There are lots of fish - and between his feet - a crowned mermaid.