Kloster Magdenau, Cistercian monastery in Degersheim, Switzerland.

Kloster Magdenau is a Cistercian abbey in the hamlet of Magdenau, part of Wolfertswil in the municipality of Degersheim. The monastic complex stands next to the former parish church of St. Verena, which is separate from the monastery, and the hamlet also includes an inn, a farm, and a sawmill. The abbey church was consecrated in 1278 and replaced by a new building between 1948 and 1953.

Rudolf Giel von Glattburg and his wife Gertrud founded the abbey in 1244 and incorporated it into the Cistercian order; the monastery church was consecrated in 1278. After fires and insect plagues in the 14th century and a decline around 1500, the convent was dissolved in 1528–1532 and its goods confiscated. Abbess Afra Schenk led resettlement in 1532, and the 16th and 17th centuries brought extensive new construction. The monastery was occupied during the Toggenburg War, strict enclosure was introduced in 1754, and in 1798 it opened one of the oldest elementary schools in the canton of St. Gallen.

The religious community living here shapes daily life through prayer and work that follow traditions passed down through generations. You can observe how the sisters move through the spaces and maintain the grounds as part of their spiritual practice.

The grounds are open to visitors who can explore the monastery and browse items at the abbey shop. Those seeking a deeper experience can arrange stays at the guesthouse to participate in activities with the community.

The monastery established one of the region's earliest schools in 1798, showing how the community extended its role beyond religious practice to education. This early commitment to teaching shaped local learning for generations.