Kapuzinerinnenkloster Wattwil, Capuchin monastery in Wattwil, Switzerland
The Capuchin monastery in Wattwil is an architectural complex featuring 17th and 18th-century elements, with a Baroque-style church standing in the Wenkenrüti area. The buildings display the construction methods and design of those periods and continue to shape the local landscape.
The original monastery was destroyed by fire in 1620, after which the sisters built a new building in Wenkenrüti in 1621. This rebuilding marked the beginning of sustained occupation at the location.
The nuns shaped daily life through handcrafts like candle making and textile care, which they shared with surrounding communities. These practical skills connected them to the region's people across generations.
The monastery is now owned by the Diocese of St. Gallen, which manages it as a cultural heritage site and opens it to visitors. The location is walkable and situated in a quiet residential area of the town.
The community originated from a Beguine movement that began in the 14th century at Ricken Pass and migrated through several locations before settling in Wenkenrüti. This long journey reveals how religious women's communities developed across the region.
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