Benedictine monastery St. Martin

St. Martin's Benedictine Convent in Hermetschwil, in the former municipality of Hermetschwil-Staffeln (now part of Bremgarten, canton of Aargau), is a women's abbey with a history stretching back over 800 years. It stands in the Reuss valley a few kilometres from Bremgarten's medieval centre, and today around fifteen nuns live here.

How did the convent begin?

Its roots lie in the Hirsau Reform. Around 1083 the men's monastery at Muri became a double monastery with a women's community, and at the end of the 12th century the nuns were moved to Hermetschwil. Muri endowed them with land and rights; by about 1300 the convent managed its own estates, and from 1309 it had its own seal. The abbot of Muri kept spiritual and secular oversight, including visitations and the choice of the head of the community. Legally the two houses remained a single foundation. From 1636 the prioresses carried the title of abbess.

What is there to see?

The church and convent building went up between 1604 and 1625, with farm buildings extended in 1557–1581 and again in 1691–1692. The complex appears in the Swiss inventory of cultural property (KGS) and in the Aargau heritage register. The abbey is a working community, so visits are limited to what the nuns open to the public. Check the convent's website for service times in the church.

A turbulent history

The Reformation of 1529–31 made some nuns leave. Counter-Reformation reforms met resistance and led to an interdict in 1587, after which the convent adopted enclosure and communal life (statutes of 1603). The Aargau Grand Council dissolved it in 1841, it was restored in 1843, and dissolved again in 1876. The property was auctioned in 1877, yet the nuns bought the building back a year later. In 1892 the community moved to Habsthal in Württemberg because the admission of novices was banned in Aargau. Only in 1973, once the constitutional exception articles were repealed, did the monastery regain its legal right to exist. It was raised to an abbey in 1985, and in 1986 Hermetschwil and Habsthal became two independent monasteries.

How do I get there?

Hermetschwil lies on the road from Bremgarten towards Muri. The easiest route is via Bremgarten, reached from Zurich by train and regional bus; the last stretch can be walked or cycled along the Reuss. By car from Zurich it takes roughly half an hour.

Frequently asked questions

Is the convent still active? Yes. A Benedictine community belonging to the Swiss federation of Benedictine nuns lives here, with the abbot of Muri-Gries as its ordinary.

Can I see the interiors? The church serves the community and the convent wings are enclosed. Check the convent's website for what is open before you go.

Is there a children's home on the site? Part of the former buildings has housed a care institution since the 19th century, but it is independent of the religious community.

What else is nearby? Combine the visit with the old town of Bremgarten in its loop of the Reuss, and with the monastery at Muri.