Former Poor Clares Monastery Paradise Unterschlatt, Medieval monastery in Schlatt, Switzerland.
The former Poor Clares Monastery Paradise stands in Unterschlatt as a closed stone complex with a church, residential and service buildings from the Middle Ages. The site preserves its original spatial structure that organized monastic life with strict enclosure practices.
The monastery was founded in the mid-13th century as a community of sisters and was one of the region's most important spiritual centers. After nearly 600 years of operation, monastic life ended in 1836 when the site was secularized.
The monastery shapes Schlatt's townscape through its solid stone architecture and rectangular layout typical of women's convents from this period. Visitors can today still understand the spatial organization of the buildings, which reflects the daily life of the religious sisters.
The building today houses a specialized library and is accessible year-round for research and educational visits. The medieval construction with thick walls and small windows shapes the spatial experience when moving through the historic rooms.
The name Paradise comes from the Latin word for courtyard or garden and refers to the original monastery complex with its inner green spaces. The Iron Library with its special collection is today a lesser-known resource that draws researchers from various fields.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
