List of Christian monasteries in Switzerland explained

This is a list of current and former Christian religious houses in Switzerland for either men or women.^[1]

A

• All Saints Abbey (Kloster Allerheiligen) (dissolved), at Schaffhausen: Benedictine monks (1049/50-1529)
• Au Abbey (Kloster Au or Kloster in der Au), at Trachslau near Einsiedeln (Schwyz): initially 4 independent women's communities first documented in 1359; became a single community in Vordere Au c.1530; became Benedictine nuns in 1617 under Einsiedeln Abbey; raised to the status of abbey in 1984; extant^[2]

• Ayent Priory (Prieuré d'Ayent, Prieuré de Saint-Romain) (dissolved), at Ayent (Valais): Benedictine monks (before 1107-1620)

B

• Baulmes Priory (Prieuré de Baulmes, Prieuré Saint-Marie, Prieuré Notre-Dame et Saint-Michel) (dissolved) at Baulmes (Vaud): Rule of St. Columbanus, later Benedictine monks (652-before 1123); Cluniacs (before 1123-1536/37)^[3]
• Beerenberg Abbey or Mariazell Abbey (Kloster Mariazell am Beerenberg) (dissolved), at Wülflingen (Winterthur): hermitage (1318-1355); Franciscan friars (1355–65); Augustinian Canons (1365-1527/28)
• Beinwil Abbey (Kloster Beinwil) (dissolved),^[4] at Beinwil (Solothurn): Benedictine monks (1085-1554)
• Bellelay Abbey (Abbaye de Bellelay) (dissolved), at Bellelay (Bern): Premonstratensians (1136-1797)
• Bellerive Abbey (Abbaye de Bellerive) (dissolved), at Collonge-Bellerive (Geneva): Cistercian nuns (1150-c.1542)
• Bellevaux Abbey (Abbaye de Bellevaux) (dissolved), at Lausanne (Vaud): Cistercian nuns (founded 1267/68; Cistercian from 1274x1293-1536)
• Bellinzona (Ticino):
  • Collegiate church (founded before 1168; extant)
  • Augustinian Canons (1444/45-1811/12)
  • Santa Maria della Grazie: Franciscan friars (1481x83-1848)
  • Jesuits (1646-1675)
  • Benedictine priory: monks (1675-1852)
  • Ursuline nuns (1730-1848)
• Benken Abbey (Kloster Benken) (dissolved), at Benken (St. Gallen): monks of unknown order, possibly Benedictine (before 741-mid/late 9th century)
• Berlai Priory or Mont-Berlai Priory (Prieuré de Berlai, Prieuré Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Berlai) (dissolved), at Avenches (Vaud): Benedictine monks (founded before 1134; deserted by 1216)
• Blonay Priory (Prieuré de Blonay) (dissolved), at Blonay (Vaud):^[5] Benedictine monks (before 1210-1536)
• Bollingen Priory (Kloster Bollingen) (dissolved), at Bollingen (St. Gallen): Cistercian nuns, later Premonstratensian nuns (founded shortly after 1229; dissolved 1267)^[6]
• Bonmont Abbey (Abbaye de Bonmont) (dissolved), at Chéserex (Vaud): Cistercian monks (1110x20-1536)
• Bremgarten (Aargau):
  • Capuchin friary, Bremgarten (dissolved): Capuchins (1617-1841)
  • St. Clare's Priory, Bremgarten (Frauenkloster St. Klara) (dissolved): Beguines (before 1406); Franciscan Tertiaries (1406-1798)
• Broc Priory (Prieuré de Broc) (dissolved), at Broc (Fribourg): Benedictine monks (before 1228-1577)^[7]
• Bubikon Commandery (Kommende Bubikon) (dissolved), at Bubikon (Zürich): Knights Hospitallers (1184x1198-1789)
• Burier Priory (Prieuré de Burier) (dissolved), at Montreux (Vaud): Benedictine monks (before 1163-1536)

C

• Cappel, see Kappel
• Cazis Priory, at Cazis (Grisons): canonesses or nuns (late 7th or early 8th century-1156); Augustinian canonesses (1156-1570); Dominican nuns (from 1647; extant)^[8]
• Claro Abbey (Santa Maria Assunta di Claro), at Claro (Ticino): Benedictine nuns (founded 1490; extant)
• Churwalden Abbey at Churwalden (Grisons): Premonstratensian monks (founded around 1150; dissolved 1803/07)
• Collombey Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Joseph d'Arbignon), at Collombey-Muraz (Valais): Reformed Bernardine nuns (founded here^[9] 1647; extant)
• Cossonay Priory (Prieuré de Cossonay) (dissolved), at Cossonay (Vaud): Benedictine monks (first half of the 11th century-1672)^[7]

D

• Disentis Abbey at Disentis/Mustér (Grisons): Benedictine monks (founded mid-8th century;^[10] extant)

E

• Ebersecken Abbey, later Priory (Kloster Ebersecken; Luther Thal) at Willisau (Lucerne): Cistercian nuns (1274/75-1588x1594)

• Einsiedeln Abbey (Kloster Einsiedeln) at Einsiedeln (Schwyz): Benedictine monks (founded c 900; extant)
• Engelberg Abbey (Kloster Engelberg) at Engelberg (Obwalden): Benedictine monks (founded 1120; extant)

(originally a double monastery; see Sarnen for the nunnery formerly part of Engelberg)

• Engental Priory (Kloster Engental) at Muttenz (Basel-Land): Cistercian nuns (before 1450-1534)^[11]
• Erlach Abbey, also known as St. Johannsen Abbey (Kloster Erlach or Abtei St. Johannsen; dedicated to Saint John the Baptist) (dissolved), at Gals (Bern): Benedictine monks (1093x1103-1528)
• Eschenbach Abbey (Kloster Eschenbach), at Eschenbach (Lucerne): Augustinian nuns (1292/1309-1588); Cistercian nuns (from 1588; extant)

F

• Fahr Priory at Unterengstringen (Zürich) / Würenlos (Aargau): Benedictine nuns
• Feldbach Abbey or Priory (dissolved^[12]) at Steckbach (Thurgau): Cistercian nuns
• Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu at Romont (Fribourg): Cistercian nuns; Trappists
• Fischingen Priory, formerly Fischingen Abbey, at Fischingen (Thurgau): Benedictine monks
• Fontaine-André Abbey at Neuchâtel: Premonstratensians
• Fraubrunnen Abbey (dissolved) at Fraubrunnen (Bern): Cistercian nuns
• Frauenthal Abbey at Cham (Zug): Cistercian nuns
• Fraumünster Abbey: see Zürich
• Frienisberg Abbey (dissolved) at Seedorf (Bern): Cistercian monks

G

• Genolier Priory (dissolved) at Genolier (Vaud): Benedictine monks
• Géronde Charterhouse (dissolved) at Sierre (Valais): Carthusians

• Glattburg Abbey aka St. Gallenberg Abbey at Oberbüren (St. Gallen): Benedictine nuns
• Gnadenthal Abbey (dissolved) at Niederwil (Aargau): Cistercian nuns
• Gottstatt Abbey (dissolved) at Orpund (Bern): Premonstratensians
• Community of Grandchamp at Boudry (Neuchâtel): Protestants
• Grandgourt Abbey at Grandgourt (Jura): Premonstratensians

• Great St. Bernard Hospice on the Great St Bernard Pass: Augustinian Canons
• Grimmenstein monastery

Third Order of Saint Francis nuns in Appenzell Innerrhoden

• Gubel, see Maria Hilf

H

• Haut-Crêt Abbey (dissolved) at Les Tavernes (Vaud): Cistercian monks
• Hauterive Abbey at Posieux (Fribourg): Cistercian monks
• Hermetschwil Abbey at Hermetschwil-Staffeln (Aargau): Benedictine nuns
• Herzogenbuchsee Priory (dissolved) at Herzogenbuchsee (Bern): Benedictine monks
• Humilimont Abbey at Vuippens-Marsens (Fribourg): Premonstratensians

I

• Dominican Convent, at Ilanz (Grisons): Dominican Sisters
• Château d'Illens at Rossens (Fribourg): displaced French Trappist monks from Laval 1903-14^[13]
• In der Au, see Au Abbey
• Interlaken Monastery (dissolved) at Interlaken (Bern): Augustinian Canons Regulars
• Ittingen Charterhouse at Warth (Thurgau): Carthusians

J

• Jonschwil Abbey or Priory (dissolved) at Jonschwil (St. Gall): Benedictine monks

K

• Kalchrain Priory or Abbey (dissolved^[12]) at Hüttwilen (Thurgau): Cistercian nuns
• Kappel Abbey (sometimes Cappel Abbey) (dissolved) at Kappel am Albis (Zürich): Cistercian monks
• Kleinlützel Priory (dissolved) at Kleinlützel (Solothurn): women religious, possibly Cistercian nuns; Augustinian Canons; Augustinian Canonesses
• Klingental Priory (dissolved) in Basel: Dominican friars
• Klingenzell Priory (dissolved) at Mammern (Thurgau): Benedictine monks
• Klingnau Commandery (dissolved) at Klingnau (Aargau): Knights Hospitallers
• Königsfelden Abbey (dissolved) at Windisch (Aargau): Franciscans and Poor Clares
• Kreuzlingen Abbey (dissolved) at Kreuzlingen: Augustinian Canons
• Küsnacht Priory or Commandery (Johanniterhaus Küsnacht) (dissolved) at Küsnacht (Zürich): Knights Hospitallers (1373-1531)

L

• La Lance Charterhouse (dissolved) at Concise, (Vaud): Carthusians
• Lac de Joux Abbey at L'Abbaye (Vaud): Premonstratensians

• Le Lieu (Vaud): monastery of unknown rule, possibly a hermitage
• Lucerne

• • Lucerne Abbey

Benedictine monks

• • Franciscan friary, Lucerne
• Lully Priory (dissolved) at Bernex (Geneva): Benedictine monks
• Lutry Priory (dissolved) at Lutry (Vaud): Benedictine monks
• Lützelau Abbey or Priory (dissolved) on Lützelau island, Freienbach (Schwyz): nuns, order unknown^[14]

M

• Magdenau Abbey at Wolfertswil, Degersheim (St. Gallen): Cistercian nuns
• La Maigrauge Abbey / Magerau Abbey (Fribourg): Cistercian nuns
• Mariaberg Abbey (St. Gallen): Built as a replacement for Abbey of St. Gall, destroyed before completion in Rorschacher Klosterbruch (1489), rebuilt as an administrative center
• Maria Hilf, on the Gubel, Menzingen (Zug): Capuchin Sisters
• Maria-Rickenbach at Niederrickenbach (Nidwalden): Benedictine nuns
• Mariastein Abbey, also known as Beinwil-Mariastein Abbey, at Metzerlen-Mariastein (Solothurn): Benedictine monks
• Mariazell, see Beerenberg
• Mariazell-Wurmsbach Abbey, see Wurmsbach
• Melchtal Abbey at Kerns (Obwalden): Benedictine nuns
• Mistail Abbey (dissolved) at Alvaschein (Grisons): Benedictine nuns
• Montheron Abbey (dissolved) at Montheron in Froideville near Lausanne (Vaud): Cistercian monks
• Mount Zion Abbey (Stift Berg Sion) at Gommiswald (St. Gallen): Premonstratensian nuns
• Moutier-Grandval Abbey (dissolved) in Moutier (Bern): Benedictine monks
• Münchenbuchsee Commandery (dissolved) at Münchenbuchsee (Bern): Knights Hospitallers
• Münchenwiler Priory (dissolved) at Münchenwiler Castle (Bern): Cluniacs
• Münsterlingen at Landschlacht (Thurgau): Benedictine nuns
• Muri Abbey at Muri (Aargau) (dissolved): Benedictine monks^[15]

N

• Nyon Abbey or Priory at Nyon (Vaud): Benedictine monks

O

• Oetenbach Priory, Lindenhof: see Zürich
• Olsberg Abbey (Stift Olsberg) (dissolved) at Olsberg (Aargau): Cistercian nuns
• Oujon Charterhouse (dissolved) at Arzier (Vaud): Carthusians

P

• Paradise Priory (Kloster Paradies) (dissolved) at Schlatt (Thurgau): Poor Clares
• La Part-Dieu Charterhouse (dissolved) at Gruyères or La Tour-de-Trême (Fribourg): Carthusians
• Perroy Priory (dissolved) at Perroy (Vaud): Benedictine monks
• Peterlingen Priory (dissolved) at Payerne (Vaud): Cluniacs
• Pfäfers Abbey (dissolved) at Pfäfers (St. Gallen): Benedictine monks

• Posat Priory or Abbey at Posat (Fribourg): Trappist monks
• Predigerkloster, Neumarkt: see Zürich

R

• Rathausen Abbey or Priory (dissolved^[16]) at Ebikon (Lucerne): Cistercian nuns
• Capuchin Friary, Rapperswil, at Rapperswil (St. Gall): Capuchin friars
• Rheinau Abbey (dissolved) at Rheinau (Zürich): Benedictines

• Romainmôtier Abbey (dissolved) at Romainmôtier-Envy (Vaud): Premonstratensian canons
• Rüeggisberg Priory (dissolved) at Rüeggisberg (Bern): Cluniacs
• Rüegsau Abbey (dissolved) at Rüegsau (Bern): Benedictine nuns
• Rueyres Priory at Chardonne (Vaud): Premonstratensian nuns
• Rüti Monastery (dissolved) at Rüti (Zürich): Premonstratensians

S

• St. Agnes' Abbey at Schaffhausen: Benedictine nuns
• St. Alban's Abbey, later St. Alban's Priory, (dissolved) in Basel: Benedictines, later Cluniacs
• St. Andrew's Abbey, Sarnen, see Sarnen
• St. Benedict's Abbey, Port-Valais, at Le Bouveret (Valais): Benedictines
• St. Bernard Hospice, see Great St Bernard Hospice
• St. Blaise's Priory (dissolved) at Basel: Benedictine monks
• St. Blaise's Priory, Stampfenbach (St. Blasianer Propstei Stampfenbach), Stampfenbach in Zürich: Benedictine monks

• St. Christopher's Abbey or Priory (dissolved) near Aclens (Vaud): Benedictine monks
• St. Gall's Abbey (dissolved) at St. Gallen: Benedictine monks
• St. Gallenberg Abbey, see Glattburg Abbey
• St. George's Abbey, Stein am Rhein, (dissolved) at Stein am Rhein (Schaffhausen): Benedictine monks

• St. Imier's Abbey (dissolved) at St. Imier (Bern): Benedictine monks, later men's collegiate foundation (Herrenstift)
• St. Jacob's Abbey im Prättigau at Klosters (Grisons): Premonstratensians
• St. John's Abbey in the Thurtal (dissolved) at Alt St. Johann, later Nesslau (St. Gallen): Benedictine monks
• St. John's Abbey, Geneva, (dissolved) at Geneva: Benedictine monks
• St. John's Abbey, Müstair, (dissolved) at Müstair (Grisons): Benedictine nuns
• St. Margaretenthal Charterhouse (dissolved) in Basel: Carthusians
• St. Martin's Abbey, Fluntern (dissolved) Fluntern, Zürich: Augustinian Canons (1127-1525)
• St. Maurice's Abbey at Saint-Maurice (Valais): Augustinian Canons
• St. Otmarsberg Abbey, also known as Uznach Abbey, at Uznach (St. Gallen): Missionary Benedictines
• St. Peter's Island (dissolved) small priory near Erlach (Bern): Cluniac monks
• St. Peterzell Priory (dissolved) at St. Peterzell (St. Gallen): Benedictine monks
• Saint-Pierre-de-Clages Priory at Saint-Pierre-de-Clages, Chamoson (Valais): Benedictine monks (12th century to 1580); Trappist monks (1793-96)
• Saint-Pierre du Mont-Joux Hospice (dissolved) at Bourg-St-Pierre (Valais): unknown^[17]
• St. Sulpice's Priory at Saint-Sulpice (Vaud): Benedictine or Cluniac monks

• St. Urban's Abbey (dissolved) at Sankt Urban or Pfaffnau (Lucerne): Cistercian monks
• St. Ursanne's Abbey (dissolved) at Saint-Ursanne (Jura): Rule of St. Columbanus, later Benedictine monks, later a college of secular canons
• St. Wiborada's Priory (dissolved) at St. Georgen in St. Gallen: Benedictine nuns
• Sarnen Abbey, St. Andrew's Abbey, Sarnen, or Engelberg-Sarnen, formerly the nunnery of the double monastery at Engelberg, (extant) at Sarnen (Obwalden): Benedictine nuns

• Schänis Abbey (dissolved) at Schänis (St. Gallen): women's collegiate foundation (Damenstift)
• Schönenwerd Priory (dissolved) at Schönenwerd (Solothurn): unknown rule; later a men's collegiate foundation (Herrenstift)
• Schönthal Abbey, Basel, (dissolved) in Langenbruck (Basel): Benedictine nuns

• Selnau Abbey: see Zürich
• Sembrancher Abbey at Vollèges (Valais): Trappist monks and nuns
• Sion Priory or Abbey near Klingnau (Aargau): Benedictine monks
• Simplon Hospice on the Simplon Pass: Augustinian Canons
• Steinen Priory (Kloster in der Au, Kloster Steinen) (dissolved) at Steinen (Schwyz): Cistercian nuns (mid-13th century - early-mid 16th century); Dominican nuns (1575 - 1640)^[18]

T

• Tänikon Abbey (dissolved^[12]) at Aadorf (Aargau): Cistercian nuns
• Tedlingen Priory or Abbey at Radelfingen (Bern): Cistercian nuns
• Töss Monastery at Töss, now part of Winterthur (Zürich): Dominican nuns
• Thorberg Charterhouse (dissolved) at Schloss Thorberg, Krauchthal (Bern): Carthusians
• Thunstetten Priory or Commandery (Johanniterkommende Thunstetten), Thunstetten (Bern): Knights Hospitallers (1192–1528)

• Tobel Priory or Commandery (Johanniterkommende Tobel) (dissolved), Tobel-Tägerschen (Thurgau): Knights Hospitallers (1228–1809)
• Trub Abbey (dissolved) at Trub (Bern): Benedictines

U

• Uznach Abbey, see St. Otmarsberg Abbey

V

• Val de la Paix Charterhouse (dissolved) at Chandossel or Villarepos (Fribourg): Carthusians
• La Valsainte Charterhouse at Cerniat (Fribourg): Carthusians, later Trappists
• Vautravers Priory (dissolved) at Môtiers (Neuchâtel): Benedictine monks
• Vermes Priory (dissolved) at Vermes (Jura): unknown
• Villarvolard Abbey or Priory (Fribourg): Trappist nuns
• La Voix-Dieu Abbey or Priory at Plasselb (Fribourg): Cistercian nuns

W

• Wagenhausen Priory (dissolved) at Wagenhausen (Thurgau): Benedictine monks
• Wangen Abbey or Priory (dissolved) at Wangen an der Aare (Bern): Benedictine monks
• Weesen Nunnery at Weesen (St. Gallen): Dominican nuns^[19]
• Werd Friary, formerly Werd Abbey, at Eschenz (Thurgau): Franciscans, formerly Benedictines
• Wettingen Abbey at Wettingen (Aargau): Cistercian monks^[20]
• Widlisbach Abbey or Priory at Rüttenen (Solothurn): Trappist monks
• Wislikofen Priory (dissolved) at Wislikofen (Aargau): Benedictine monks
• Wonnenstein Friary at Teufen (Appenzell-Ausserrhoden): Capuchin friars
• Wurmsbach Abbey at Bollingen (St. Gallen): Cistercian nuns

Z

• Zürich

• • Fraumünster Abbey: Benedictine nuns (853  - 1524)^[21]
  • Barfüsserkloster Zürich: Franciscan friary (c.1253  - 1524)
  • Augustinerkloster Zürich: priory of Augustinian friars (c.1270  - 1524)
  • Predigerkloster Zürich, Neumarkt: priory of Dominican friars (c.1234  - 1524)
  • Community of St. Verena: Beguines (mid-13th century  - 1524)
  • Oetenbach Priory, Lindenhof: convent of Dominican nuns (c.1237  - 1525)
  • St. Martin's Priory, Fluntern, also known as Zürichberg Priory (Kloster auf dem Zürichberg): Augustinian Canons (1127  - 1523 or 1525)
  • Selnau Abbey: Cistercian nuns (under the Rule of St Augustine 1256-59; Cistercian 1259  - 1525)
• Zurzach Abbey (dissolved) at Zurzach (Aargau): men's collegiate foundation (Herrenstift)

Sources

• Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz
• Helvetia Sacra

Notes and References

1. Despite their names, the Abbaye des Écharpes Blanches at Montreux and the Abbaye d'Echallens are not religious houses but very long-established shooting associations, founded for self-defence purposes
2. http://www.kloster-au.ch/ Kloster Au website
3. as a subordinate priory of Payerne
4. later re-established at Mariastein Abbey and sometimes known as Beinwil-Mariastein Abbey
5. the priory church was located in the neighbouring village of Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, which also belonged to the lords of Blonay
6. united with Wurmsbach
7. dependent on Lutry
8. http://www.kloster-cazis.ch/Kloster_Cazis/Geschichte.html Kloster Cazis website
9. previously at Saint-Maurice and Monthey
10. the traditional date was 614, but archaeological investigation does not corroborate this
11. apparently a re-foundation of a 13th century monastery
12. re-established as part of Mariastern-Gwiggen in Austria
13. https://commune-gibloux.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/Documents/Gibloux/WWW/Users/La-commune/Rossens/HISTOIRE_FRIBOURGEOISE.pdf Histoire Fribourgeoise: Rossens - Une Commune de la Sarine expansion?. Manuel Greca, 2011
14. possibly under the Rule of Caesarius of Arles
15. the community was relocated at the old Priory of Gries in the South Tyrol (formerly Austria, now Italy) and is now known as Muri-Gries
16. re-established at Thyrnau Abbey or Rathausen-Thyrnau in Bavaria
17. the other hospices were run by Augustinian Canons
18. https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/049699/2012-11-13/ Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz: Steinen (Kloster)
19. Web site: Geschichte. Dominikanerinnenkloster Maria Zuflucht. German. 2015-10-17. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151120225714/http://www.kloster-mariazuflucht.ch/geschichte/geschicht%20kloster.htm. 2015-11-20.
20. the community is now based at Wettingen-Mehrerau Abbey in Austria
21. dissolved during the Reformation in Zürich