educational home Rathausen

Rathausen Abbey in Ebikon is a former Cistercian nunnery in the canton of Lucerne, set between the Hundsrücken hill and the Reuss river. The complex dates to the mid-13th century and later served as a teacher training school and a children's home. The monastic layout survives, with the church still at its core.

How did the nunnery come to Rathausen?

It began with a community of sisters at Horw, who moved in 1245 to the Riedholz area near Ebikon. In 1251 the bishop allowed them to found a Cistercian convent. The place name shifted over time: a 1251 record calls it "Domus consilii", and the form "Rathusen" appears from 1259.

The convent belonged to the diocese of Constance, and from 1819 to that of Basel. The abbot of Lützel acted as father abbot until 1266, followed by the abbot of St. Urban until the convent became exempt in 1649. Sisters from Rathausen also founded the first community at Ebersecken in 1274 or 1275.

What can you see in the complex?

The bishop consecrated the abbey church in March 1259, around the same time as the church at neighbouring St. Urban. How much of the other buildings stood by then is unknown. Rebuilding and renewal followed in the 14th century.

Like other Cistercian nunneries in the region, the church is fairly large and long. It carries a single roof turret (Dachreiter), in keeping with the order's austere style. The interior was divided into a nuns' choir and, on the Reuss side, a section for lay brothers.

The former administrator's house (Amtshaus), the Milchhof and the chapel also define the character of the ensemble, which stands together beside the river.

How did the buildings change use?

The convent was dissolved in 1848. The sisters moved to Eschenbach, then Schwyz (1855), Vézelise in Lorraine (1876), and finally settled in 1902 at Thyrnau near Passau in Bavaria.

The buildings first housed a teacher training college. In 1883 a Catholic institution for poor children moved in, run by the Ingenbohl sisters. It operated until 1972, and its history remains a subject of public debate, marked by a contested memorial.

The complex was once at risk of demolition but was saved by renovation. The former convent buildings now hold workshops for the SSBL foundation. The Lucerne cantonal heritage office published the archaeological and building research in a 2016 volume.

Where is Rathausen?

The site lies in the municipality of Ebikon, just north of Lucerne, beside the Reuss. Coordinates: 47.0802 N, 8.3119 E. Parts of the complex are in everyday use by the foundation, so check access rules on the SSBL website before visiting.

Frequently asked questions

When was Rathausen founded? The community founded in 1245 received the bishop's permission for a Cistercian convent in 1251. The church was consecrated in 1259.

Do nuns still live at Rathausen? No. The convent was dissolved in 1848, and since 1902 the sisters have lived at Thyrnau in Bavaria.

What are the buildings used for today? After renovation, the former convent buildings serve as workshops for the SSBL foundation.

What were the buildings used for after 1848? First a teacher training college, then from 1883 to 1972 a children's home for poor children run by the Ingenbohl sisters.