Former Benedictine abbey, church building in Neu St. Johann in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland
The former Benedictine abbey is a large stone structure located in the countryside near Nesslau with tall walls and plain windows built for durability. Inside, you can see remains of ancient rooms including a chapel and living quarters that reveal how monks arranged their spaces.
The abbey was founded around 719, making it over 1300 years old and one of the oldest institutions in Switzerland. Over the centuries it served as a center for religious life and learning in the region before being secularized in 1805.
The former abbey reflects how monks integrated prayer, study, and manual work into their daily routines within these stone walls. The simple layout of courtyards and corridors shows the practical way they organized their spiritual community.
You can walk around the grounds and view the large stone walls that have lasted hundreds of years at your own pace. The location is surrounded by fields and forest, so wear appropriate clothing for outdoor conditions and allow time to explore the quiet surroundings.
The abbey's archives are among the oldest in Switzerland, holding documents from its founding era that provide insight into early medieval history. These valuable records survived the secularization wave of the early 1800s and remain accessible to scholars today.
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