Former Benedictine monastery Schönthal, Medieval monastery in Langenbruck, Switzerland.
The former Benedictine monastery Schönthal sits on a hill near Basel with Romanesque features including thick stone walls and arched windows. The grounds hold several historic buildings and 33 permanent outdoor sculptures scattered throughout the property.
Founded in 1140, the monastery served Benedictine monks until 1415 when the Servite Order took over the site. It was abandoned during the Reformation in 1529 and later served various commercial purposes before becoming an art venue in 2000.
The grounds now serve as a sculpture park where works by Swiss and international artists stand alongside historic stone buildings. Walking through the site, you experience the blend of religious heritage and contemporary art that gives the place its current character.
Use the map provided at Schönthalstrasse 158 to navigate the grounds and plan for roughly three hours to see everything. The terrain is hilly, so wear sturdy shoes and bring layers since weather changes quickly at this elevation.
The grounds once served as a toolshed, dairy farm, brickworks, and storage facility before becoming an art space. This layered past adds character to the buildings and grounds, showing how the site reinvented itself repeatedly over centuries.
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