Mount Zion Abbey, Gommiswald, Switzerland

Mount Zion Abbey (Berg Sion) is a Premonstratensian nuns' abbey built on scenic rocky spur above the Gaster valley in 1761 by the priest Joseph Helg. It was built along a pilgrimage route from the churches on Lake Constance to Einsiedeln Abbey. The Loretto Chapel was built in 1763-65. A year after the chapel was completed three sisters moved from Schussenried Abbey in Germany to the new Abbey. The Abbey's farms and private donations supported the residents and allowed it to grow rapidly and by 1778 there were 52 sisters living there. The unique longitudinal main building grew organically through several expansion projects.

Following the 1798 French invasion, the creation of the Helvetic Republic and then the Canton of St. Gallen in 1803, the Abbey went into decline. Under the Republic and the new Canton they lost many of their farms and were sometimes forced to billet troops. It rebounded between 1846-76 under the leadership of the matron Gertrude Hüsler from Steinhausen and confessor Benedict Frey from Wettingen Abbey. By 2000 there were 18 nuns living in the Abbey, under the Bishop of St. Gallen.

References:

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User Reviews

Felix Weber (2 years ago)
Schöner Ort zum entspannen und eine Super Aussicht

Caleb Omamo (3 years ago)
Schön Kloster

Appenzell Moto (3 years ago)
Eindrückliches Gebäude auf einer Anhöhe, die nicht nur den Nonnen Weit- und Einsicht bietet

Anna Wth (3 years ago)
auf einer Anhöhe gelegen mit einem tollen Blick auf den Zürisee

A. Gadient (3 years ago)
Das Kloster ist weit herum sichtbar und von seiner Grösse her erkennbar, dass es mehr als ein Ort der Stille und des Rückzugs ist. Die Gebäudeformation ist rein auf Zweckmässigkeit ausgerichtet, nur bei der Kirche wurde äusserlich mehr Zierde erlaubt, wenn auch schlicht. Die Bogenfenster und der Gockenturm, dessen Dach hochgezogen ist, geben eine besondere Note.

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