Abbeys & churches

One of only two Protestant churches in Lucerne, St. Matthäus was the first, built in 1848 in a neo-Gothic style.

Frauenthal Monastery can be found in a secluded and scenic spot in the canton of Zug. It is considered to be the oldest Cistercian monastery in Switzerland.

The Cistercian nuns at Maigrauge are ready to offer young women a temporary retreat in their cloister.

The Abbey of Saint Maurice in Valais was built 1500 years ago as a place to honor martyrs. The pilgrimage destination was once the spiritual center of the Burgundy Empire and today houses one of the richest ecclesiastical treasures in Europe.

What’s special about the Rapperswil monastery is that guests may truly immerse themselves in the life of the community.

Fischingen is the only lived-in monastery in the canton of Thurgau.

All year around, the church's caretaker, Beat Gmür, and the sextant Erich Sax are afoot and afield in the Ammler mountains to find the material for the enormous landscape of creches.

Founded in the 8th century, Disentis Monastery is today the spiritual and educational center of the Upper Rhine Valley (Vorderrheintal). A cultural history exhibition depicts the history of the Benedictine Abbey as well as ecclesiastical art.

Climb the north tower of the Cathedral of St. Pierre in Geneva and look out over the old town, Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) and the Alps. Under the church floor, an excavation site takes you back to the 4th century.

Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral in Lausanne's Old Town. The Gothic building from the 13th century impresses with its ornate stained glass windows, the painted portal and the view of Lake Geneva from the tower.

The Münster is one of Basel's main sights. Situtated in a promiment position high above the Rhine River, the former episcopal church presides high above the region.

The Franciscan Cloister of Mariaburg sits atop Burgstock hill in the heart of Näfels.

The Sacred Mountain (Sacro Monte) consists of the pilgrimage church of Santa Maria Addolorata and the Way of the Cross leading from Brissago up the hill to this church.

The Abbey of St. Gall has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, and has plenty of impressive treasures just waiting to be discovered in its library, vaulted cellar and new exhibition hall.

Beautiful former monastery on Rheininsel – the brilliance and richness of the magnificent interior of the baroque building are overwhelming. The monastery church is one of the most significant Swiss sacred buildings.

On 18 May 1478 the people of Zug, under the direction of Hans Felder, laid the foundation stone for this late-Gothic church. The main entrance is flanked up on the left and right by the city’s patron saints, Oswald and Michael.

The abbey church of Payerne, which was founded in the 11th century by Cluniac monks, is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture and building technology of the period. The abbey church, the 14th century parish church facing it, and the adjacent buildings together form a noteworthy unity.

In the 16th century, the architect Ulrich Ruffiner built the St. Romanus fortified church on the rock spur above Raron. Almost 500 years later, the people of Raron opened the cavernous St. Michael rock church. Together with the grave of the poet Rilke, the pair of churches are a magnet for tourists in the community in Valais.

St. Martin’s Church is the heart of the Catholic parish in Olten. This is where the community comes to worship.

Ittingen Charterhouse, a former Carthusian monastery with more than 850 years of history, is one of the most important cultural sites in the region.

Built in the late 15th century, Santa Maria delle Grazie is one of the most precious churches in Ticino.

The Burial Church of Santa Maria is one of the most precious sacred buildings in the Canton of Graubünden.

The Cathedral of Mary's Ascension is the focal point of Chur's Bishop's Court. This diocese dates back to late Roman times, making this the oldest still functioning bishopric north of the Alps.

Begun in 1421, Bern's Cathedral took 150 years to complete, and was erected entirely by volunteers. The cathedral was built for the purpose of housing a bishop, but Protestantism reached Bern before its bishop did. The cathedral represents the last major work of late Gothic architecture in Europe.

The Benedictine Monastery, built in 1120, forms the center of Engelberg. To date there are still approximately 30 monks living and working in the Engelberg monastery.

In the furthest reaches of the Maggia Valley in Ticino stands an architectural masterpiece: The Mario Botta Church in Mogno combines modern architecture with regional materials. Discover Mario Botta's famous structure at 1180 meters.

Starting from Rossa in the idyllic Lower Calanca Valley, a new walk leads to three historic chapels with modern and abstract motifs on the exterior walls. Visitors can experience the region’s traditional architecture combined with modern art, as well as the beautiful natural surroundings of Parco Val Calanca.

The Collegiate Church of St. Leodegar is the oldest sacred building listed under the protection of monuments in the canton of Solothurn. It was first mentioned in 778 AD. as the Werith Monastery.

A singularly beautiful panorama of the pre-Alpine landscape, the lakes and the snow-capped Alps. The Santa Maria degli Angeli chapel, designed by world-famous architect Mario Botta, is a marvel of contemporary architecture and features paintings by Enzo Cucchi.

The bell tower of the Gothic cathedral, high on the hill on which the Old Town is built, is home to the city’s most enigmatic resident.