Visiting Einsiedeln Abbey: What Awaits You at Switzerland's Foremost Place of Pilgrimage

Einsiedeln Abbey is a Benedictine monastery with over a thousand years of history and the foremost place of pilgrimage in Switzerland. Its abbey church is among the most important baroque churches in the country. Just inside the entrance, in a small marble chapel, stands the Black Madonna, the best known devotional image in Switzerland. Pilgrims have been coming here for more than a millennium. Today the church is open to everyone, whatever their faith, on every day of the year and without an entrance fee. Here is what you should know before your visit.

What you are visiting in Einsiedeln

Einsiedeln is not a museum. Several dozen Benedictine monks live in the monastery, praying, teaching and working here. The abbey has its own wine cellar, its own workshops and the oldest stud farm in Europe. The present complex was built in the early 18th century and is one of the most important baroque buildings in Switzerland. Its foundations reach back to the 10th century, to the time of the hermit Meinrad in the "dark forest". Einsiedeln is also an important stage on the Swiss Way of St James. The pilgrimage is still a living practice, so in the church you will usually find yourself not only among tourists but also among pilgrims.

The Black Madonna

Just behind the church entrance stands the Chapel of Grace. It holds the figure that draws close to a million people to Einsiedeln every year: a late Gothic Madonna from the middle of the 15th century, barely 120 cm tall, robed and crowned. Her dark colour comes from the soot of the lamps and candles that burned in front of her for centuries. When a restoration brought the pale wood beneath to light, the faithful were so dismayed that the figure was painted black for good. The Madonna owns more than 20 ceremonial robes, which are changed according to the liturgical calendar. Anyone who comes more often will therefore rarely see her twice in the same dress.

Every day in the late afternoon the monks gather in front of the Chapel of Grace and sing the polyphonic Salve Regina. The singing lasts about ten minutes. It is public, so you can be there in the church without registering and without paying. If you would like to hear it, plan to still be in Einsiedeln in the late afternoon; the exact time is on the abbey's website.

The abbey library (guided tours only)

Behind closed doors lies one of the great monastic libraries of Europe. It holds around 230,000 printed volumes as well as manuscripts going back to the 10th century. Its centrepiece is the richly decorated rococo hall. The library can be visited only on a guided tour. These usually take place daily in the early afternoon, except on Sundays and public holidays. A tour lasts around 90 minutes and covers the church and the library; current times and prices are published by the abbey. Private tours in further languages are arranged by Einsiedeln Tourism. Anyone interested in old books and manuscripts can plan a whole outing around this tour.

What else there is to see

• Panorama and Diorama: near the abbey, the Panorama shows a large circular painting of Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion. The Diorama holds one of the largest nativity scenes in the world. Both date from the heyday of pilgrimage tourism and have kept their old-fashioned charm.
• The stables: here you will find the "Cavalli della Madonna" from the oldest continuously operating stud farm in Europe. Parts of the stables are open to the public.
• The Herrenberg: a short climb behind the abbey brings you to the view of the mighty façade and the abbey square as you know them from postcards.
• The abbey shop: it sells wine from the abbey's own vineyards, books and the Schafböcke, a honey pastry that has been baked in Einsiedeln for centuries.
• Lake Sihl: the largest reservoir in Switzerland begins at the edge of the village. Paths run along the shore and are well suited to walks and unhurried bike rides through the quiet pre-alpine landscape.

Practical information

• Opening hours of the church: the church is open daily from early morning until late evening, and longer in summer. Entry is free. Current times are on the abbey's website.
• Respect for the place: the church is a house of worship, not a sight in the usual sense. Photography and filming are not permitted inside the church. Please cover your shoulders and avoid short trousers or skirts. Services take precedence, so move as quietly as possible while they are being held.
• How much time to allow: about an hour is enough for the church and the Chapel of Grace. With a library tour, the Panorama and a stroll through the village it becomes half a day.
• Staying overnight as a pilgrim: the abbey offers simple overnight accommodation for pilgrims. Some travellers deliberately choose this option.
• 14 September: on this day Einsiedeln celebrates the Engelweihe, the feast of the angelic consecration. According to legend, Christ himself consecrated the original chapel in the year 948. The Engelweihe is a public holiday in Einsiedeln and the most important day of the abbey's year.

Getting there

• From Zurich: by train via Wädenswil you reach Einsiedeln in about 45 to 60 minutes. That makes the abbey one of the easiest day trips from Zurich.
• From Lucerne: the journey takes about an hour, with a change at Arth-Goldau or Biberbrugg.
• From the station it is about a ten-minute walk to the abbey. You can see the façade as you step off the train.

FAQ

Does it cost anything to visit Einsiedeln Abbey?

No. The church with the Chapel of Grace and the Black Madonna is freely accessible every day. You only pay for the guided tours of the church and the library.

Why is the Madonna black?

Soot from candles and lamps darkened the wood over centuries. When cleaning brought the pale wood back to light, the figure was deliberately painted black so that it stayed as the faithful knew it.

Can the abbey library be seen without a tour?

No, the rococo hall is accessible only as part of the guided tours. They usually take place daily in the early afternoon, except on Sundays and public holidays.

When is the Salve Regina sung?

The monks sing it every day in the late afternoon in front of the Chapel of Grace. You can attend without paying.

How much time should I allow?

One to two hours are enough for a short visit to the church and the Chapel of Grace. With a library tour, the Panorama, the Herrenberg and a walk through the village you will need half a day.

Is there a dress code?

Yes. Shoulders should be covered, and short trousers and skirts are not welcome. Photography is also not allowed inside the church.