Territorial Abbey of Saint-Maurice

The Territorial Abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune stands in the town of Saint-Maurice in the Swiss canton of Valais. Founded in 515 by Sigismund, the future Burgundian king, it is home to a community of canons regularly. Its buildings sit tight against a sheer rock face above the Rhône, on the old route between the Rhône valley and the Alpine passes. It is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance (class A).

Why does this place matter?

Veneration here predates the abbey itself. According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, Theodore, the first bishop of Valais, moved the remains of Theban Legion soldiers, St Maurice among them, to the foot of the cliff around 380–390. A shrine grew around the tombs, and in 515 Sigismund formally established a monastic community. The dedication took place on 22 September with St Avitus of Vienne present. Prayer has continued on the site ever since, which makes it one of Europe's oldest living religious communities. Around 830 canons replaced the monks, and in 1128 the community adopted the Augustinian rule. Since 1993 it has held the status of a territorial abbey, answering directly to the Holy See.

What can you see?

• The basilica – the abbey church, still used by the canons and the parish.
• The archaeological site – in the Martolet courtyard under the cliff, excavations revealed the remains of successive churches from late antiquity into the early Middle Ages, including a baptistery.
• The treasury – the main draw. It holds gold and silver reliquaries and goldsmiths' work, among them the shrine known as the Shrine of Sigismund's Children, and is counted among Switzerland's most important church treasuries.

The visit covers the basilica, the excavations and the treasury. An audio guide is available, along with a family trail built around a treasure map. Plan about 1.5 hours.

How do you get to Saint-Maurice?

The town lies on the railway line through the Rhône valley, near Martigny and Montreux. From the station the abbey is a short walk away, at Avenue d'Agaune 19. By car, the A9 motorway brings you here from Lausanne in roughly 45 minutes.

When should you visit?

The treasury and excavations are open year-round, but hours differ between the summer and winter seasons, and Mondays are usually closed. Check abbaye-stmaurice.ch for current times and ticket prices. The abbey is still a working religious community, so visitors are asked to keep the visit quiet.

Frequently asked questions

Is Saint-Maurice the oldest abbey in Europe? It was founded in 515 and its community has kept up its prayer ever since, which places it among the oldest in Europe.

How long does a visit take? A full tour of the basilica, archaeological site and treasury takes about 1.5 hours.

Is it connected to the Capuchin convent in Saint-Maurice? No. The Capuchin convent in the same town is a separate site; the abbey is run by the Augustinian canons.

Is there an entrance fee? Entry to the treasury and archaeological site is ticketed, with reduced rates for children and concessions. See the abbey's official website for current prices.