Heiligkreuz monastry

Heiligkreuz Monastery (Kloster Heiligkreuz) in Cham sits in the Lindencham district of canton Zug, central Switzerland. It is a convent of Olivetan Benedictine nuns, not Cistercians, as it is sometimes misdescribed. The Holy Cross chapel, the convent church and the cloister wall all appear in the Zug cantonal heritage inventory.

What is the history of the convent?

The community began in 1853, when sisters of the Baldegg institute left after the Lucerne government shut that institute down. With donors' help, the Institut Baldegg-Cham was built beside the Holy Cross chapel in Lindencham in 1859. The sisters became independent of Baldegg in 1862, and in 1865 the Zug government recognised them as a church corporation, which opened the way to growth. They joined the Benedictine congregation of Monte Oliveto in 1892, the house was reformed in 1962, and papal approval followed in 1963.

What did the sisters do?

They ran girls' schools and poorhouses in Zug and Lucerne. At Cham they added household-skills courses and teacher training: general teachers from 1902, handicraft teachers from 1910 and kindergarten teachers from 1928. In 1933 they took over the Zug town hospital and from 1960 its nursing school, which the canton assumed in 1981. Branch houses stood in places such as Ramsen, Dussnang, Unterägeri and Davos.

What is the connection with Korea?

From 1931 the nuns helped build up a mission in Yenki, Manchuria. After fleeing, they founded a mission station with a hospital in Pusan, South Korea, in 1951. In 1982 the community split into two priories, Heiligkreuz and Pusan. In Switzerland the number of sisters fell from 366 in 1962 to 128 in 2002.

What can you see on site?

The boarding school, convent and Holy Cross chapel have been renovated since 1966. The heritage inventory also lists the Lindenkapelle, the linden chapel. The monastery is a working religious house, so visits are limited to the grounds and buildings open to guests. Check church opening times with the Cham municipality or the community before you go.

How do you get there?

The monastery lies in the municipality of Cham on Lake Zug, near 47.192 N, 8.442 E. Cham has rail links to Zug and Lucerne, and you can reach the site on foot or by local transport from the town centre.

FAQ

Is it a Cistercian monastery? No. Heiligkreuz belongs to the Olivetan Benedictine nuns and has been in the Monte Oliveto congregation since 1892.

When was it founded? The community dates from 1853 and the institute at the Lindencham chapel from 1859.

Is it a listed building? The chapel, convent church and cloister wall are in the Zug canton heritage inventory.

Can I go inside? It is an active convent, so confirm access with the community or the municipality.