Martinsloch: Sun pierces rock to light up Swiss village

The bell tower of the Gothic church in the village of Elm in eastern Switzerland was illuminated on Friday morning by a ray of sunlight passing through the Martinsloch (Martin’s Hole), a natural 17-metre high and 19-metre wide hole in a rock face five kilometres away. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The phenomenon can be observed, only under clear skies, twice a year: one week before the beginning of spring and after the beginning of autumn. According to legend – the best-known legend, anyway – a shepherd, Martin, was tending to his animals on the Elm side of the mountain. “One day, a giant from Flims attacked his flock and tried to steal some of his sheep,” a Flims tourism site explains. “However, Martin defended his animals valiantly and the giant fled. Martin hurled his crook after the giant, but it missed and struck the Tschingelhörner. A mighty roar and clatter rang out, and a vast sea of rocks crashed down to the valley. Once the dust had settled ...