Elsau offers several different points of interest for a stay: church history, the art house and the landscape of the Eulach Valley. Historical references range from a presumed early church to an archaeological find. There are also art exhibitions and concerts at the art house, as well as the Niderwis outdoor swimming pool. The valley’s formation adds another distinctive aspect. When planning your trip, you can consider whether culture, local history, landscape or a family-friendly leisure activity matters most to you.
Church history spanning several building phases
It is assumed that a church was built in Elsau as early as the 7th or 8th century. The present late Gothic church replaced an earlier Romanesque place of worship. During rescue excavations at the church in 2003, a 9th-century grave pit was discovered. These represent different historical points of reference: a presumed early construction date, an archaeological find and the transition from a Romanesque to a late Gothic place of worship. The dates help distinguish these references: the find dates to the 9th century, while the presumed church is placed earlier; the terms Romanesque and late Gothic refer to different building phases. The focus is therefore not just on a single building, but also on archaeological traces and changes in church architecture.
Art and events at the Elsau Art House
The Elsau Art House is located in a 200-year-old house and was completed in 2010. It has exhibition spaces and a concert hall for 70 people. It is used for public and private events, including art exhibitions and concerts. The exhibition spaces and concert hall represent different cultural interests: both visual art and music are part of the events programme. The art house is open to visitors by prior arrangement. Please arrange your visit in advance. If you are planning to come for an exhibition or concert, also check the specific date, as the events programme may change.
The landscape of the Eulach Valley
The Eulach Valley took on its present form during the last Ice Age. As the glaciers retreated, they left behind moraine hills, and the Eulach flowed in a strongly winding course through the valley floor. These details offer a different perspective from church history: the focus is on how the valley landscape formed, rather than on a building or a find. Moraine hills and the course of the river are features of this landscape development. If you are interested in geological connections as well as culture, you can make this your focus and complement local history with a landscape perspective.
Another highlight: the Niderwis outdoor swimming pool
The Niderwis outdoor swimming pool is a well-maintained, attractive and family-friendly facility. It complements the cultural and geological focus with a leisure option. Its family-friendly nature is a relevant consideration for families; depending on your interests, you can also choose between local history, art and events, the landscape and leisure activities. Elsau brings together a range of themes to consider when planning a trip, without requiring you to make any one of them the sole focus of your itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Dinhard, Turbenthal, Hofstetten, Elgg, Wiesendangen, Winterthur, Altikon, Neftenbach.
Back to the higher-level travel overview: Winterthur.
