Up Close and Personal with Saint Proculus
An Interview with the Koch Family
Up Close and Personal with Saint Proculus
News The Erlebnistherme Naturns will be closed from 15/09 to 26/09/2025.

An Interview with Maria and Heinrich Koch

The Good Spirits of St. Proculus

THIS PERHAPS BEST DESCRIBES THE 35-YEAR RELATIONSHIP MARIA AND HEINRICH KOCH HAVE HAD WITH THE CENTURIES-OLD CHURCH OF ST. PROCULUS. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, IT WAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THAT EVENTUALLY CLOSED THIS LONG CHAPTER IN THEIR LIVES, DURING WHICH THEY LED VISITORS ON COUNTLESS TOURS. WE MET UP WITH THE COUPLE AGAIN AND SPOKE ABOUT THE FRESCOES IN THE CHURCH, WHICH REMAIN A SOURCE OF FASCINATION FOR THEM. WE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT MAKES ST. PROCULUS SO SPECIAL AND WHY SOME VISITORS ONCE CAME BEARING ARMS.

Your involvement with St. Proculus has lasted 35 years. What do you still find fascinating about it?
M: It’s how the church affects me. I’ve looked after it for 35 years, and when I conduct guided tours there I still find the frescoes as fascinating as I did on the very first day. It's amazing how much is concentrated in such a small space, with so much detail and hidden beauty.
H: What fascinates me is the realisation that, despite all the scientific knowledge that man has developed, we still know nothing. The Carolingian frescoes can be interpreted in so many ways, and the important questions of life are still open. Since so little is really known and we’re mostly left to speculate. Our explanations of various aspects of the church could only be based on the different theories that have been put forward. What these painters tried to pass on to us 1,300 years ago, we’ll never know – simply because we weren’t there. The frescoes depict subjects important to the Carolingians … things that had meaning for them. By contrast, frescoes by Gothic painters are more overtly dogmatic.

Is there a particular painting or fresco in the church that stands out for you?
M: The one depiction that still fascinates me to this day is image of the angels adoring the chancel arch with open hands. I especially like the gesture of the hands, as if to ward off evil. And if you look closer, they are the only figures in the church represented with ears! Perhaps it has to do with their proximity to the altar, so they can hear the Word of God.
H: That fact that there are certain depictions that are only found in St. Proculus is also exciting, such as the disproportionately large hands or the Gothic portrayal of the Magi. They were initially portrayed as children, then as adults and finally as old men. What does all this symbolise? Perhaps that Man is on a lifelong quest. What a unique depiction!

After more than 35 years working there, have you seen any change in the type of visitors who come to the church?
H: The type of people who come to visit St. Proculus Church have always been varied, and include regular tourists, school groups and academics. It's a bit of everything. The biggest change in recent years is that cultural tourism has increased a lot. Most of those who came to South Tyrol 35 years ago did so to go hiking and to enjoy the wine. That was about all. That’s changed a lot in recent years.

The frescoes in the St. Proculus Church are 1,300 years old.
What in your opinion is its main attraction, and what is it about this inconspicuous little church that makes it so interesting to visitors?
H: St. Proculus is more than a cultural attraction or just another church. It’s an energy spot! Such places have attracted visitors for centuries, and people always leave something of themselves behind. It’s also true that St. Proculus has been a source of fascination for esoteric visitors and energy diviners. Whichever way you look at it, we can all agree on the fact that St. Proculus Church makes people feel at ease. It’s a place where one can recharge one’s batteries. It isn’t unusual to find families with children in St. Proculus’s garden.

We live in turbulent times with various crises going on around the world. What would you say is the role cultural artefacts play in modern society? To provide social cohesion? Remember how the world looked on horrified when the Notre Dame caught fire, or when IS destroyed ancient monuments in Syria and Iraq?
H: Cultural monuments are rallying points for society; places of identification. These days, locals hardly notice them anymore as they are taken for granted. The fact that works of art in many historic buildings resonate with contemporary events somehow surprises people. In St. Proculus, there’s the fresco of Mary fending off the arrows of the Plague with her mantle, which seems so appropriate during the Covid-19 pandemic. I would say that people nowadays are turning back to culture and history. Obviously, I see this as a positive development.

So, these monuments aren’t just lifeless buildings?
M (laughing):
No, they aren’t lifeless. On the contrary, they are very much alive and if you pay attention, you’ll find they have the most fascinating tales to tell.
The church was like a second home for Maria and Heinrich.
The outwardly inconspicuous St. Proculus Church hides early Carolingian art treasures dating from about 1,300 years ago. Apart from their age, their artistic value is equally noteworthy. Frescoes include the renowned “Swinger”, Angels, ornamental Celtic bands, a herd of cattle and the onlookers. Next to these frescoes are gothic paintings.
For those interested in delving further into its history, there’s the Proculus Museum just opposite. Archaeological relics depict human activity in the area of Naturns/Naturno, from late Antiquity to the devastating Typhus Epidemic of the 17th Century.
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Naturns  I  Naturno

🌄 Magische Momente über den Wolken✨
Wer einmal einen Sonnenaufgang in den Südtiroler Bergen erlebt hat, weiß: Das sind Augenblicke, die man nie vergisst. Wenn die ersten Sonnenstrahlen ☀️ die Gipfel in goldenes Licht tauchen, die Luft noch frisch und klar ist und die Welt für einen Moment stillzustehen scheint – dann spürt man den wahren Zauber Südtirols. 🏞️💛

Früh aufstehen lohnt sich – versprochen!😉

📍Mutspitze

📸: IDM Südtirol
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🌄 Momenti magici sopra le nuvole✨
Chi ha vissuto almeno una volta l’alba tra le montagne dell’Alto Adige, lo sa: sono attimi che non si dimenticano mai. Quando i primi raggi del sole ☀️ tingono le cime di luce dorata, l’aria è ancora fresca e frizzante, e il mondo sembra fermarsi per un istante – è lì che si percepisce la vera magia dell’Alto Adige. 🏞️💛

Alzarsi presto ne vale davvero la pena – promesso! 😉

📍Cima Mut (Mutspitze)

📸: IDM Alto Adige

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naturns_naturno naturns_naturno Yesterday
naturns_naturno

🍂 Hiking in September? Absolutely!
Even now, the irrigation channels around Naturns are just perfect for a relaxed autumn hike. 🌾☀️

With mild temperatures, golden light, and the first signs of fall colors, late summer is showing its most beautiful side. 🌻🍁
Whether alone, with friends, or with family – the irrigation channels offer relaxation, stunning views, and that authentic South Tyrolean feeling. 💚

📍 Irrigation channel Algund
📸: IDM South Tyrol_Patrick Schwienbacher

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🏞️ Klein, charmant & sonnig – das ist Plaus! ☀️🍇
Eingebettet zwischen Apfelplantagen und Bergen ist Plaus ein echter Geheimtipp für alle, die Ruhe, Natur und das authentische Südtiroler Lebensgefühl suchen. 💚

🚴‍♀️ Perfekt zum Radfahren & Wandern
🍷 Genuss pur mit regionalen Spezialitäten
🌿 Erholung für Körper und Geist
📸 Und immer einen Fotostopp wert!

Ob als Ausgangspunkt für Abenteuer oder zum Entschleunigen – Plaus verzaubert mit seinem Charme und seiner entspannten, sonnigen Atmosphäre.🌞

👉 Warst du schon mal dort? Oder steht es noch auf deiner Bucket List?

📸: TG Naturns_Fotostudio2000

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🏞️ Piccolo, affascinante e soleggiato – questo è Plaus! ☀️🍇
Circondato da meleti e montagne, Plaus è un vero gioiello nascosto per chi cerca tranquillità, natura e l’autentico stile di vita altoatesino.💚

🚴‍♀️ Perfetto per andare in bici e fare escursioni
🍷 Puro piacere con specialità regionali
🌿 Relax totale per corpo e mente
📸 E sempre degno di uno scatto!

Che sia come punto di partenza per nuove avventure o per rallentare i ritmi – Plaus conquista con il suo fascino e la sua atmosfera rilassata e soleggiata. 🌞

👉 Ci sei già stato? O è ancora nella tua bucket list?

📸: TG Naturns_Fotostudio2000

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✨Save the Date -𝟭 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸: Last Summer Glow – the event highlight to wrap up the summer!✨
📍 Burggräflerplatz Naturns
📅 Saturday, September 20th | from 5:00 PM

Join us to enjoy the last golden rays of summer at a very special evening in a unique atmosphere!
🎶 Live music by the Santoni Family from 6:30 PM will bring relaxed vibes and good mood
🍹 Aperitifs, delicious culinary treats & fine drinks invite you to relax and enjoy
🕯️ Cozy atmosphere under the open sky – the perfect way to end a long summer!

Come by, bring your friends, and experience the Last Summer Glow in Naturns – we look forward to seeing you!💛

📸: IDM South Tyrol_Patrick Schwienbacher

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Naturns  I  Naturno Naturns I Naturno 6 days ago
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Herbstzauber in Südtirol!🍂 Die Äpfel reifen und die goldenen Sonnenstrahlen lassen die Früchte in voller Pracht erstrahlen.🍏 Ein perfekter Moment, um den Herbst in seiner vollen Schönheit zu genießen – mit Blick auf die historische Prokulus Kirche in Naturns.🌞🍃

📸: TG Naturns_Frieder Blickle

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Magia d'autunno in Alto Adige!🍂 Le mele maturano e i raggi dorati del sole fanno risplendere i frutti in tutta la loro bellezza. 🍏 Un momento perfetto per godersi l'autunno nella sua pienezza – con vista sulla storica chiesetta di San Procolo a Naturno.🌞🍃

📸: TG Naturns_Frieder Blickle

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