Capuchin Monastery

The Capuchin Monastery in Sursee (Kapuzinerkloster Sursee) sits in the old town of Sursee, canton of Lucerne, on Geuenseestrasse. Built in the early 1600s, it now serves church and cultural purposes and houses a museum devoted to the Capuchin order in Switzerland.

When and why was it built?

Construction ran from 1606 to 1608, during the Counter-Reformation, when Capuchins were founding new houses in Catholic Swiss towns. A seventeenth-century map of Sursee marks the "Capuciner Closter" right beside the parish church of St. George, so the friars lived at the heart of town life. In 2006 the four-hundredth anniversary produced a commemorative book, "Kloster für Stadt und Amt", tracing the path from a mission outpost to a spiritual centre for the surrounding district.

Friars lived here for almost four centuries. The community was dissolved in 1998. The Roman Catholic parish of Sursee bought the buildings together with the library, and after restoration and conversion the rooms are used for religious and cultural events. The former Capuchin library remains inside the complex under parish care.

What can you see?

The main draw is the Kapuzinermuseum Sursee. It was planned in 1960 and opened in 1962. Its displays cover the life and history of the Capuchins and Franciscans in Switzerland, with paintings, sculptures, prints, books, documents and photographs. Themes include the Swiss province of the order, the Rule of St. Francis, nativity scenes and the cross, and missionary work.

The monastery itself is a plain example of early seventeenth-century mendicant architecture. It pairs well with a stroll through Sursee's old town and a look at St. George's church nearby.

When can you visit?

The museum is open seasonally, May to October, and is shown mainly through guided group tours. Bookings go through the City of Sursee or the monastery guardian. Individual visitors should check current dates before travelling, since no walk-in hours are published. Directories list the address as Geuenseestrasse 2a or 2b, 6210 Sursee.

How do you get to Sursee?

Sursee lies on Lake Sempach, a short distance from Lucerne, and has its own railway station on the line towards Lucerne and Olten. From the station the monastery is a walk through the old town. The coordinates are roughly 47.174 N, 8.111 E.

Frequently asked questions

Do Capuchin friars still live there? No. The community was dissolved in 1998 and the buildings belong to the Roman Catholic parish of Sursee.

Can I visit the Capuchin museum on my own? It is open May to October and run mainly as guided tours for groups. Reservations go through the City of Sursee or the monastery.

When was the monastery built? Between 1606 and 1608. Its 400th anniversary was marked in 2006.

What happened to the monastery library? It passed to the parish with the buildings and is still housed in the former monastery.