Engelberg Abbey is a Benedictine monastery located in the Swiss town of Engelberg, in the canton of Obwalden. Since its founding by Konrad von Sellenbüren in 1120, the abbey has been inhabited by Benedictine monks.
The monastery has held a central role in the Engelberg valley for over 900 years, offering both education, hospitality and refuge in the area.
Today it is still a working monastery, a school, a library and a historical landmark in the Engelberg region.
| Location | Benediktinerkloster 1, 6390 Engelberg, Switzerland (Google Maps) |
| Phone | +41 (0)41 639 61 19 |
| Website | https://www.kloster-engelberg.ch/ |
| Parking | Parkplatz Zentrum und Langlaufloipe (Google Maps) |
| Opening Times | Grounds are open year-round |
| Entry Price | Grounds & church are free to enter |
Table of Contents
Engelberg Monastery Gardens
One of the most notable aspects of the Engelberg Monastery, aside from the austere white buildings, are its gardens. The meticulously manicured gardens surrounding the monastery building are a pleasure to stroll around, especially when everything is in bloom in summer.
Engelberg Monastery Church
The monastery church is something of a surprise because from the outside it appears quite plain and uninspiring. However, once you enter, you will certainly be glad that you did.
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It is one of the most striking interiors in the rococo style you will find and it is also home to Switzerland’s largest church organ.
So, any visit to the church is both a visual and aural experience! Especially with the monks chanting during the daily mass. (You can find the mass times on the monastery website)
Soak in the frescos towering over you as well as the other paintings and religious artifacts throughout the collegiate church’s small hall.
Engelberg Monastery Tours
You can book an in-depth tour of the Engelberg Monastery from a Benedictine monk three times a week. They will give you a detailed look into both the history and their lives inside the monastery with an hour-long tour of the complex.
| Tour Times & Days | Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 4 pm (book here) |
| Ticket Prices | Adults: 12 CHF Students and apprentices (16 years +): 8 CHF Children (12 – 16 years): 6 CHF Children (6 -16): Free Under 6 not recommended |
| Tour Language | Usually in German, however sometimes in English upon request English & French texts provided during tour |
| Meeting Point | By the monastery gate (Kloster Pforte inside the monastery) |
| Group Tours | Group sizes of 7 – 20 are available, Group tour price: 120 CHF |
History Of The Engelberg Monastery
Prior to the French Revolution, the abbot served both as a spiritual and secular Lord in the Engelberg valley. However, in 1798, the Engelberg people gained their independence.
Monastic life was maintained throughout the nine centuries of the building’s existence. And monks continue to live there to this day. The monastery has been plagued by internal difficulties and external temptations throughout its life, especially during medieval times. There have also been countless fires and a plague, making the monastery’s continued existence such a marvel.
The current baroque monastery complex you see in Engelberg today was built after the third fire in 1729.
