Einsiedeln - Benedictine Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln

The Benedictine Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln, built by the lay brother Kaspar Moosbrugger (1656-1723) of Au in the Bregenzerwald, is the finest example of Vorarlberg architecture in Switzerland. The conventual buildings, laid out in a regular square around four courtyards, cover an area of 34,000 sq. m/40,664 sq. yd. The twin-towered church (1719-35) is a sumptuous Baroque building, with ceiling frescoes by the Asam brothers of Bavaria (the largest fresco in the country), and a wrought-iron choir screen (1684), designed to give the effect of perspective.

Must-see attractions nearby:

Bethlehem Diorama

Christ's Crusifixion reconstruction

Hillel String Collection

The Gnadenkapelle (Chapel of Grace), rebuilt in 1815-17 in Neo-classical style after its destruction by the French in 1798, contains the carved wooden figure of the "Black Virgin" (15th C.). The library possesses 150,000 volumes, 1,300 manuscripts produced in the great medieval scriptorium here and 1,200 incunabula. The Princes' Hall (Fürstensaal: entrance from the south side of the conventual buildings), with stucco decoration by M. Roncati (1704-05), is used for special exhibitions.