Hauterive Monastery

Hauterive Abbey (Abbaye d'Hauterive, German: Kloster Altenryf) stands in Posieux, canton of Fribourg, inside a bend of the river Sarine. It is the oldest Cistercian monastery in Switzerland still in use, home to roughly twenty monks. A quiet riverside setting and austere medieval architecture make it an easy half-day stop from the city of Fribourg.

Who founded it, and where does the name come from?

Baron Guillaume de Glâne granted the land between 1132 and 1137, and the first monks came from Cherlieu in northern Burgundy. The abbey was consecrated in 1138, and Pope Innocent II confirmed it in 1142. "Hauterive" echoes the Latin alta ripa, "high bank", describing the sandstone cliff rising behind the buildings.

What is there to see?

• The church, built around 1150 to 1160, is regarded as one of the Cistercian buildings closest to the plain ideal of Bernard of Clairvaux.
• The Gothic choir was added around 1320 to 1330.
• The choir stalls date from the late 15th century.
• The cloister buildings follow the classic four-wing plan around a courtyard. They were rebuilt in Baroque style between 1715 and 1770, so the monastic quarters feel richer than the church.

The church was fully restored between 2021 and 2025.

What happened to the abbey over time?

After the Sonderbund War the community was dissolved. The premises then housed an agricultural school and a teacher training college. Cistercian monks returned in 1939 and still live here. The canton of Fribourg plans a three-volume publication on the abbey for November 2026.

How do you get there, and when should you go?

The address is Chemin de l'Abbaye 19, 1725 Posieux, a few kilometres from Fribourg. To hear the monks sing, come for the conventual Mass on Sunday at 9:45. The abbey has a monastery shop and guest rooms for visitors who want a stay of silence. It is a living monastery, so parts of the complex are enclosed and visitors are expected to respect the community's prayer. Check current opening hours on the abbey's website (abbaye-hauterive.ch) before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Is the abbey still active? Yes. About twenty Cistercian monks live here, and the community returned in 1939.

How old is the church? It dates from the mid-12th century. The Gothic choir came in the 14th century and the Baroque conventual wings in the 18th.

What does Hauterive mean? It comes from the Latin alta ripa, "high bank", after the cliff above the Sarine.

Can I stay overnight? Yes, the abbey offers guest rooms for those seeking quiet.