Reformierte Kirche mit Pfarrhaus und Ofenhaus

The Reformed church with its parsonage and bakehouse in Frauenkappelen is a listed group of buildings in the village of Frauenkappelen, canton of Bern, a short distance west of the Swiss capital. It stands on the site of a medieval convent that gave the village its name.

What is this place?

Frauenkappelen sits on a terrace between Lake Wohlen (Wohlensee) and the Gäbelbach stream, in the Laupen district. The heritage ensemble comprises the church, the parsonage and an outbuilding with a bread oven, the traditional village bakehouse. The three buildings are registered together as one monument entry.

What is the history of the church?

The settlement is first recorded around 1158, when a chapel of Mary (Capela) is mentioned. Between 1228 and 1240 an Augustinian convent was founded here, and its name, roughly "the chapels of the ladies", gave the village its own. About ten nuns lived there, drawn from noble and council families of Solothurn and Bern. In 1486 the community was merged into the St. Vincent collegiate foundation in Bern, and the remaining sisters kept their right of residence until the last one died.

The convent church was built over an early medieval sunken-floor building and absorbed the older Marian chapel. At first it was a branch of the parish of Mühleberg. The 1574 rebuilding is linked with the church becoming an independent parish. The former convent building served as the parsonage until it was demolished in 1640, and today's parsonage came later.

What else is nearby?

• The earthworks of Alt-Bubenberg castle, first mentioned in 1241 and abandoned in the 14th century.
• Hallstatt-period burial mounds in the Spilwald forest.
• The shore of Lake Wohlen.

The village was the first stage out of Bern on the Bern–Murten–Lausanne road, built in 1742-1748, and had an inn, a smithy and a shop. The convent's pilgrim hospice, the Spittel, burned down in 1908.

How do you get there?

Frauenkappelen lies on the old road from Bern towards Murten and Lausanne, west of the cantonal capital. Driving from Bern is the easiest option. The church group stands in the village, so a look from outside takes a quarter of an hour. Pair it with a walk to the lake.

When should you visit?

Late spring to autumn is best for walking in the area. The church belongs to the Reformed parish, so check with the parish for interior opening times. The parsonage and bakehouse are seen from outside.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No. You can see the ensemble from outside for free, and the church is an active parish building.

Does the convent still exist? No. The convent building was demolished in 1640. The church on the former convent grounds and the village name are what remain.

How much time do I need? The ensemble itself takes 15-30 minutes. Add a walk to the lake or the Alt-Bubenberg earthworks and plan half a day.

Where does the village name come from? From the Augustinian convent "Sancta Maria de Cappellis", founded in the 13th century, and the earlier chapel of Mary.