Einsiedeln, Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland
Einsiedeln Abbey
A Benedictine abbey in the Swiss Alps that has been a major European pilgrimage site for over a thousand years, home to the Black Madonna of Einsiedeln.
Einsiedeln sits in a green valley in the canton of Schwyz, its massive Baroque facade stretching across a wide plaza like a palace. Benedictine monks founded the community in 934, and the present church — built between 1704 and 1735 — is a masterpiece of Vorarlberg Baroque, with a soaring frescoed ceiling, gilded stuccowork, and an overwhelming sense of height and light. The object of pilgrimage is the Black Madonna, a small fifteenth-century statue of the Virgin and Child housed in a black marble chapel inside the nave. Pilgrims have been coming here since the Middle Ages, and the tradition has never stopped. The monastery also runs one of Switzerland's best-known schools. The setting, with the Alps rising behind the abbey, is exactly what you hope it will be.
Diocese: Diocese of Chur
Style: Vorarlberg Baroque
What to See
The Black Madonna chapel is just inside the entrance — don't rush past it to see the rest of the church, though the Baroque interior will pull you forward. The ceiling frescoes are best appreciated from the nave. The plaza outside, with the abbey spreading across it, is impressive from any angle.
Pilgrim Notes
Einsiedeln is about 40 minutes by train from Zurich. The monks welcome visitors to liturgical services. The town itself is small and charming. In winter, the nearby Hoch-Ybrig ski area draws a different kind of visitor, but the abbey stays peaceful.