Kloster Werd, Franciscan monastery on Werd Island, Eschenz, Switzerland
Kloster Werd is a Franciscan monastery situated on a small island in Lake Constance, reachable via a wooden bridge from the mainland shore. The complex includes a chapel and residential buildings set within the island landscape, with pathways allowing visitors to explore the grounds.
The monastery traces back to Saint Otmar, the first abbot of Saint Gallen, who lived in exile on this island until his death in 759. The site was later established as a Franciscan settlement and grew into a significant monastic community in the Lake Constance region.
The Franciscan community here shapes daily life through regular services and spiritual work that visitors can witness during chapel gatherings. This monastic presence continues to influence religious life in the region.
Visitors can access the island via the wooden bridge from Eschenz, though conditions may restrict access during high water or severe weather. Sturdy footwear is recommended, especially when walking the island pathways.
The island features a labyrinth design based on Chartres Cathedral's famous pattern, carefully laid out within the confined island space. This unusual element connects spiritual tradition with the distinctive character of this isolated monastic location.
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