Kloster Mariaburg

Kloster Mariaburg in Näfels is a monastery on a former castle hill in the canton of Glarus, eastern Switzerland. Capuchin friars founded it in the 17th century, and Franciscans live there today.

What is Mariaburg and where is it?

The complex crowns a hill above the village of Näfels, in the municipality of Glarus Nord. The hill once carried the castle of Näfels, for a long time the principal Habsburg administrative seat in the Glarus region. The people of Glarus destroyed it in 1351, and the summit later gained an entirely different purpose.

What is the history of the monastery?

The Capuchin monastery was established in 1674, pushed through by the Catholic population of Glarus despite the displeasure of the Reformed side. Construction took place on the castle hill between 1675 and 1679. The Capuchins also ran a monastery school there, which they gave up in 1984. In 1986 they handed the house over to the Franciscans.

In 1994 the Stiftung Mariaburg was created. It pays for the upkeep of the buildings and provides care for elderly or ill friars of the Swiss Franciscan custody. Between 2001 and 2006 the exterior of the whole complex and the interior of the monastery church were renovated, and records of that work are held in the Swiss federal archives.

What can you see?

You will see a monastery and church complex set on a hill that overlooks Näfels. The site itself is the highlight: the old castle mound gives a good vantage point over the surroundings. The monastery is still a home to a religious community, so treat it as a living place rather than a museum.

How do you plan a visit?

Näfels lies in the Linth valley in the canton of Glarus, close to the town of Glarus and the Walensee. Mariaburg pairs well with a walk through a village whose history reaches back to the Middle Ages. Because friars live in the buildings, check current opening hours and visiting rules for the church before you plan to go inside. The outer parts of the complex and the view from the hill can be enjoyed independently of services.

Frequently asked questions

Who built Mariaburg? Capuchins founded the monastery in 1674, and the buildings went up between 1675 and 1679.

Is it a convent for nuns? No. Mariaburg is a monastery for men. Capuchins lived there first, and Franciscans have been there since 1986.

What stood on the hill before? The castle of Näfels, a Habsburg administrative centre in the Glarus region, which the Glarus people destroyed in 1351.

Who looks after the buildings today? The Stiftung Mariaburg, set up in 1994, maintains the complex and supports the care of elderly and sick Swiss Franciscans.