Mount Zion Abbey, Gommiswald, Switzerland

Mount Zion Abbey (Berg Sion) is a Premonstratensian nuns' abbey built on scenic rocky spur above the Gaster valley in 1761 by the priest Joseph Helg. It was built along a pilgrimage route from the churches on Lake Constance to Einsiedeln Abbey. The Loretto Chapel was built in 1763-65. A year after the chapel was completed three sisters moved from Schussenried Abbey in Germany to the new Abbey. The Abbey's farms and private donations supported the residents and allowed it to grow rapidly and by 1778 there were 52 sisters living there. The unique longitudinal main building grew organically through several expansion projects.

Following the 1798 French invasion, the creation of the Helvetic Republic and then the Canton of St. Gallen in 1803, the Abbey went into decline. Under the Republic and the new Canton they lost many of their farms and were sometimes forced to billet troops. It rebounded between 1846-76 under the leadership of the matron Gertrude Hüsler from Steinhausen and confessor Benedict Frey from Wettingen Abbey. By 2000 there were 18 nuns living in the Abbey, under the Bishop of St. Gallen.

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User Reviews

Willi Luntzer (2 years ago)
Never been there. I will definitely do it sometime. From a distance the building complex looks impressive.

Bombilla 1980 (3 years ago)
Very nice inside and outside impressive landscapes.

Frank Urban (3 years ago)
Ruhiger Ort, wunderbare Aussicht.

Robin Kenzler (4 years ago)
Nice view from up there. Unfortunately I didn't find a way that goes in front of the monastery. There is a small car park and the general atmosphere is relaxed. Here you can watch the sun going down. The Christmas lights on the building looked a bit sad as they weren't working properly anymore.

Heinz Spiller (4 years ago)
The monastery couldn't be more beautiful. Fantastic mountain and lake view. The monastery church is also worth seeing. A place of reflection. Tip: If you like Klosterguetzli (Aenis), go in at the gate and ring the bell, it takes a while, then you can buy them for CHF 0.50 each. Just went back yesterday and was told they are stopping making these fine pastries due to age. Pity Unfortunately.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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Mount Zion Abbey

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