Former Cistercian monastery Wettingen, Medieval Cistercian monastery in Wettingen, Switzerland
The former Cistercian monastery in Wettingen is a large religious complex with a church, cloisters, and multiple buildings dating from different construction periods. The structures use local limestone and sandstone, showing various architectural styles built side by side over centuries.
The monastery was founded in 1227 by Count Heinrich II of Rapperswil after he survived a shipwreck, and it remained an active religious community until its dissolution in 1841. This span of over 600 years shaped the complex into the layered architectural work seen today.
The monastery houses Switzerland's largest collection of historic stained glass panels within its cloister walls, with pieces representing different construction periods that fill the courtyard with colored light. Visitors notice how these works transform the space as the sun moves across the day.
The complex is located at Klosterstrasse 11 in Wettingen and is accessible from the street. Today it houses a cantonal school, though the church within remains open for regular Catholic services, making both the building and its religious function visible to visitors.
The complex contains a Renaissance-era painted ceiling depicting the Infant Jesus that survived a devastating fire in 1507 completely unharmed. This artwork remained untouched despite the intense heat and destruction that surrounded it, and visitors can still see it today.
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