A secluded monastery - Hauterive
Overview
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Intro
Nestling harmoniously in a site formed by a loop in the River Saane, the medieval Hauterive Abbey is among Switzerland's best-preserved monastic estates. The modest restraint of the church and the Baroque opulence of the monastic buildings offer an intriguing contrast.
The Cistercian Hauterive Abbey stands at a secluded and slightly elevated spot within a loop of the River Saane. This location met the demands of a monastic order that sought penitence and solitude, specifically: proximity to open waters, arable land to allow self-sufficiency and raw materials for the construction of a monastery.
The abbey was built in 1138 by the monks of Cherlieu. The layout of the original buildings perfectly matches the typical Cistercian layout: four wings arranged in a square around a cloister with the northern wing formed by the east-facing church. The estate, to which a mill, farm, chapel and enclosing wall were added in the thirteenth century, was subsequently remodelled and refurbished on several occasions. Over the years, the abbey experienced periods of prosperity and decline. The monastic buildings were reworked in the Baroque style in the eighteenth century and henceforth contrasted with the older church, which retained its sobriety.
After a break of 91 years, during which the estate housed the cantonal school of agriculture and, later, the teacher training college, 1939 marked the return of monastic life to the abbey. It currently houses around 20 monks from Switzerland and various other European countries.
Trip tip
Hauterive Abbey and the spectacular loop in the River Saane are best explored on the nearly three-hour Circuit de Hauterive trail. The abbey houses a shop selling local produce. Guided tours for the public are conducted on Saturdays. Anyone seeking first-hand experience of monastic life can stay at the lodging house and attend the monks' church services.
ISOS
ISOS is the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance. The inventory is maintained by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and lists the most significant settlements in Switzerland. Today, some 1,200 places are included in the inventory, from hamlets right through to cities. The inventory provides information on the development and identity of the settlements listed in it, thereby contributing to the preservation of architectural diversity in Switzerland and promoting both sustainable planning and a high-quality Baukultur.
Discover the surroundings
Address
Abbaye d'Hauterive
Chemin de l'Abbaye 19
1725
Posieux
Switzerland
Phone
+41 (0)26 409 71 00
accueil@abbaye-hauterive.ch
abbaye-hauterive.ch
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