Discover Einsiedeln

Einsiedeln combines monastic history with museums, regional crafts and a variety of ways to get to know the town and its surroundings. When planning a hotel stay, you can focus your visit on monastic culture, exhibitions, traditions or routes.

Einsiedeln Abbey and Its Visitor Attractions

Einsiedeln Abbey is a Baroque monastic complex dating from the 18th century. The abbey church is open to the public; check access before your trip. The Chapel of Grace houses the “Black Madonna.” The abbey library also offers a glimpse into monastic culture: its hall is decorated in the Early Rococo style and can be visited as part of selected guided tours.

The scriptorium has an exhibition area devoted to writing and bookmaking. In a workshop, participants learn how historical texts were written using a quill and ink. As workshop arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the conditions before your visit. This makes the workshop different from the exhibition: in addition to the subject of writing, it includes a practical activity.

The Monkstrail is an approximately one-hour treasure hunt featuring puzzles across the abbey grounds. Check the current booking conditions before adding it to your plans. Bookable winery tours offer insights into wine production and include a tasting; the booking conditions for these tours may also change. Those interested in writing, puzzles or wine production can therefore choose from a range of subjects and formats within the abbey’s offerings.

Museums, Panorama and Regional Traditions

The Fram Museum presents the permanent exhibition “A Village of the World” about Einsiedeln. In the context of the history of this place of pilgrimage, it tells the stories of explorers and inventors, publishers and priests, as well as theatre professionals and musicians. Check the exhibition status before your trip.

The DIORAMA Einsiedeln depicts the Christmas story with 450 hand-carved figures dressed in Oriental-style clothing. The scene includes 80 square metres of landscape and a painted backdrop more than 30 metres long. The Einsiedeln Panorama is a separate attraction. The circular painting from the 19th century depicts the crucifixion of Christ and transports visitors to the Holy Land.

The Schafbock and Gingerbread Museum offers insights into the history of regional baking and the tradition of pilgrimage. The Schafbock is a type of gingerbread associated with Einsiedeln: this distinctive, unfilled pastry made from sweet honey dough represents an original traditional recipe. In this way, local crafts and pastries add a distinct regional focus to the museum and monastic themes.

Village Tours and Routes Around Einsiedeln

The village tour explores hidden corners, historical events, and local traditions and customs. The duration and booking arrangements may change; please check in advance if you plan to take the tour on a specific day. It offers a different focus from the exhibitions, centring on the town, its history and its customs.

A 17-kilometre section of the Way of St. James leads from Rapperswil on Lake Zurich to Einsiedeln Abbey. Check route conditions and signage when making specific plans. Einsiedeln is also part of a road cycling loop that links Lake Zurich, the Wägital valley, the Sattelegg Pass, the Sihl high valley with the Ybrig, Lake Sihl, the Mythen mountains, Einsiedeln Abbey, the St. Meinrad Pass and Rapperswil. The two routes differ in character: the Way of St. James is described as a specific route with defined endpoints, while the road cycling loop links a series of regional stops.

Around Einsiedeln, lakeshores, moorland, forests and scenic high-altitude trails alternate. Alongside the individual cultural attractions, visitors can therefore also choose from a variety of landscapes as a focus for their stay. Whether it is the abbey, an exhibition, regional baking traditions or a route that appeals to you, these different options can help you plan your visit around your interests.

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