EINSIEDELN ABBEY (KLOSTERKIRCHE)

Surrounded by an exceptional lake and mountains as far as the eye can see, Kloster Einsiedeln has been a place of pilgrimage for over a thousand years. It is a splendid monument built in the early ^18th century. The abbey church is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture to be found anywhere in the country. The huge monastery, designed by Kaspar Moosbrugger, features the black marble Chapel of the Graces, in which the famous ^15th-century Black Madonna stands beneath a frescoed dome. The exterior is very imposing, with dimensions worthy of the castles of Schönbrunn or Versailles. The Baroque style lends an indisputable magnificence to this complex, built on the site of a first convent dating back to the ^9th century. The interior is even more remarkable, with a Baroque profusion that would make the finest Italian monuments pale in comparison. The total length of the church exceeds 100 m. The nave, over 40 m long, is a jewel, extended by the choir designed by Kraus. Einsiedeln Abbey is a Benedictine abbey rich in tradition, home to some 50 monks and Switzerland's most important place of pilgrimage. In addition to the monks' residence, the abbey includes a school, ten workshops, a wine cellar and stables. The monks also offer concerts, guided tours and masses. A place not to be missed.