Pfafers Abbey

Pfäfers Abbey (German: Kloster Pfäfers) is a former Benedictine monastery in the village of Pfäfers, canton of St. Gallen, perched above the Rhine valley a short distance from the spa town of Bad Ragaz. Its hilltop setting earned it the alternative name St. Pirminsberg, and its baroque buildings rank among eastern Switzerland's notable heritage sites.

How did the abbey begin?

The monastery was founded in the first half of the 8th century. Hermann of Reichenau's chronicle gives 731, with Reichenau as the mother house, while tradition credits the travelling bishop Pirmin. The first surviving written record dates from 762, and some sources give a founding window of 730–750.

Why was it important?

The abbey watched over the route across the Kunkels Pass towards the Italian-bound passes of Graubünden. After the bishopric of Chur, it was the leading religious centre of the old Chur-Raetia region. Wartenstein Castle was built in 1206 to protect it.

What is the link to the Tamina Gorge?

From 1382, the warm spring water in the Tamina Gorge was used as the Bad Pfäfers bathing establishment, tied to the monastery. The gorge lies below the abbey and remains one of the main draws around Bad Ragaz.

What can you see?

The monastery complex is baroque and dates from the 17th century. The abbey church was remodelled in baroque style in 1726 and fully restored in 2001-02. The site is listed in the Swiss inventory of cultural property of national significance (class A).

What happened after 1838?

The Great Council of St. Gallen voted to secularise the abbey in November 1838. In the 1840s the canton turned the buildings into a psychiatric institution, later known as the St. Pirminsberg clinic. As a result, part of the complex works as a hospital site rather than a typical museum monastery.

How do you get there?

Pfäfers is a few kilometres from Bad Ragaz, which has a railway station on the Zurich-Chur line. From there, take a local bus or drive. Coordinates: 46.9906 N, 9.5021 E.

Frequently asked questions

When was Pfäfers Abbey founded?

Around 731 according to the Reichenau chronicle; the first documented mention is from 762.

Do monks still live there?

No. The monastery was dissolved in 1838, and the buildings now house, among other things, a psychiatric clinic.

Is the abbey connected to the Tamina Gorge?

Yes. The monastery was tied to the baths at the warm spring in the gorge, in use since 1382.

Is it worth combining with Bad Ragaz?

Yes. The two are only a few kilometres apart, and the histories of the abbey and the spa are closely linked.