Benedictine convent with St. Leonhard hospital and ossuary

The Benedictine convent in Melchtal sits in the Alpine valley of the same name, part of the municipality of Kerns in the canton of Obwalden, central Switzerland. The settlement lies at roughly 890 m above sea level.

How did a convent end up in Melchtal?

The community dates to 1866, when three women from Lucerne moved into the valley under the priest Balthasar Estermann. The group kept growing, and in 1868 it became a Benedictine convent. A girls' boarding school was added in 1869, the same year the convent's Church of the Holy Spirit (Heiliggeistkirche) was consecrated.

What did the sisters do here?

The school ran until 1998, and the institute's buildings were renovated between 1957 and 1978. In 2002 the community counted 52 sisters, 16 of them serving in branch houses in Tyrol. They ran a guesthouse, a vestment workshop and a small hand-weaving studio. By 2019 the buildings had become too large for the community, and the sisters relocated to the Benedictine Centre in Sarnen. The convent's archive is now held by the Obwalden State Archive.

What else is there to see in Melchtal?

The valley's history reaches back well before the convent. A Maria Hilf chapel was built in 1618 and extended in 1780, then replaced by a pilgrimage church in 1928. Melchtal became a chaplaincy in 1695 and a pilgrimage site in 1736, and since 1971 it has been its own parish together with Melchsee-Frutt and Tannalp. Ore from Melchsee-Frutt was smelted here until 1689, and marble has been quarried above Stöckalp since the 17th century. Today the local economy rests on cattle farming, alpine pastures and tourism.

How do you get to Melchtal?

Until 1864 only a pack trail led into the valley. Today a road runs up from Kerns, and a bus service has operated since 1924. To the south the valley connects to the high plateau of Melchsee-Frutt, a destination for hiking in summer and snow sports in winter.

Frequently asked questions

Do sisters still live in the convent?

Not in Melchtal. In 2019 the community left the oversized buildings and moved to Sarnen.

When was the convent founded?

The community began in 1866 and became a Benedictine convent in 1868.

Can you visit the interior?

Access may have changed since the sisters moved out, so check with the Kerns municipality or the Melchtal parish before you go. The village and the surrounding valley are open to visitors all year.

How high is Melchtal?

The village centre is at about 890 m, and the valley ends at Stöckalp at its upper end.