Pfäfers Abbey, Medieval monastery and hospital in Pfäfers, Switzerland
Pfäfers Abbey is a former monastery in the canton of St. Gallen, set on a hillside above the Tamina valley in the village of Pfäfers. The buildings date mainly from the 17th century and include a monastery church, convent wings, and rooms that once served as a hospital.
The monastery was founded in the early 8th century and grew into an influential center for the surrounding region over the following centuries. A fire in the 17th century destroyed the medieval buildings, after which the entire complex was rebuilt from the ground up.
The name Pfäfers points to an early medieval settlement, and over the centuries the site developed a close link between religious life and medicine. Visitors walking through the church and the former monastic rooms can still feel how tightly faith and daily community life were once woven together here.
The site sits on elevated terrain above the valley and is reached by a mountain road, so sturdy shoes are a good idea. Weather can change quickly at this altitude, and an extra layer of clothing is useful at any time of year.
Pfäfers Abbey had a long connection to the nearby thermal springs of Bad Pfäfers, giving it an unusual role as a healing center alongside its religious function. For centuries, people came here not only to pray but also to use the baths that the monks managed just down the valley.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
