Page 214 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

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KLOSTER

EINSIEDELN Did You Know?

EXPERIENCE Central Switzerland and Ticino Completed in 1735, the Benedictine abbey at Einsiedeln In the abbey's library is
 D2 ⌂ Hauptstrasse 85 # Church: 6am–8:30pm daily
(to 9pm Easter–Nov); Grosser Saal: 1:30–6pm daily; library:
2pm daily or by appointment ∑ kloster-einsiedeln.ch
is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture
Versus de scachis, with
in the world. The abbey has been a place of pilgrimage
the earliest known
since 948 when, according to legend, a miracle occured
mention of chess in
during the consecration of the church, and now more
Western literature.
than one million pilgrims come here each year.
The history of the abbey goes back to 835, when Meinrad, a
monk, chose the spot for his hermitage. In 934 a monastery
was founded on the site, and it soon flourished as a place of
learning, printing and music. Its library became renowned for
its extensive collection of manuscripts. In the 13th century the
a fine example of
pilgrimage to the abbey became known as the “Einsiedeln The abbey library is
tradition”. The abbey was remarkably left alone during the Baroque style.
the Refor mation in the 16th century, despite the fact
Protesant Reformist Ulrich Zwingli preached The confessional is
located in the
here during this time. The church and monas­ north transcept.
tery were rebuilt in the 18th century,
to a grand Baroque design. Most of
the paintings, gilding and stucco work
are by the Bavarian brothers Cosmas
Damian and Egid Quirin Asam.
Today 60 monks continue
to work and follow the
Benedictine tradition.

The statue of
the Virgin
crowning the
Well of Our
Lady

As they arrive, pilgrims
drink the water from
the Well of Our Lady.

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