Zisterzienserinnenabtei Magdenau

Magdenau Cistercian Abbey (Zisterzienserinnenabtei Magdenau) stands near Wolfertswil, in the municipality of Degersheim in the canton of St. Gallen. It is a living convent of nuns who follow the Rule of St. Benedict, and one of the oldest Cistercian women's communities in eastern Switzerland. The complex is protected as a cultural property.

What is the history of the abbey?

The story starts in the 13th century. According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, a community of beguines settled in St. Gallen in 1228. In 1244 it moved to Magdenau, after Rudolf Giel von Glattburg and his wife Gertrud donated patronage rights over the church of St. Verena along with nearby farms. The bishop of Constance bound the women to the Benedictine rule and Cistercian statutes. The St. Gallen cantonal archaeology service gives 1247 as the start of membership in the Cistercian order, and historical sources describe a link with Wettingen Abbey from 1261 at the latest. The convent buildings, laid out in the typical Cistercian manner, were consecrated in 1278.

After Wettingen was dissolved in 1841, oversight passed in 1854 to Mehrerau Abbey near Bregenz. In 2007 the convent counted 16 sisters.

What can you see here?

• Seventeenth-century buildings. The monastery received its baroque character in that century. Look for the panelled rooms with ornate stoves and the emblem cycle in the guesthouse.
• The guesthouse (Gästehaus). It is listed in the Swiss federal inventory of cultural property (KGS) and described as a 17th-century building on medieval foundations.
• The convent church. The present church was built in 1952-1953 on the site of the old one, so its interior is modern rather than baroque.

Keep in mind that this is a working convent. Check visiting arrangements on kloster-magdenau.ch before you travel.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The abbey lies at roughly 47.402 N, 9.171 E, in the hilly countryside of the Toggenburg region, within Degersheim. The postal address is Wolfertswil. A car from St. Gallen or Wil is the simplest option. By public transport, set Degersheim or Wolfertswil as your destination and check local bus connections in the SBB timetable.

When should you visit?

A daytime visit in fair weather works best, as you can pair the abbey with a walk through the surrounding hills. Respect the quiet and the sisters' daily prayer rhythm, which shapes life in the convent.

Frequently asked questions

Is Magdenau still an active convent? Yes. A community of Cistercian nuns lives here by the Rule of St. Benedict today.

When was the abbey founded? The community moved to Magdenau in 1244. Membership in the Cistercian order is dated to 1247 or 1250, and the monastery was consecrated in 1278.

Is the church medieval? No. The current convent church was built in 1952-1953 in place of an older one.

Where can I check visiting hours? On the convent's official website, kloster-magdenau.ch. Because it is a working convent, access rules can vary.