A circular panorama from the 19th century, 100 metres long and ten metres high, depicts the Crucifixion of Christ in Einsiedeln. The panorama makes a striking impression in a destination where pilgrimage, monastic history and regional culture come together.

The district of Einsiedeln is in the canton of Schwyz. It comprises the village of Einsiedeln as well as Bennau, Egg, Willerzell, Euthal, Gross and Trachslau. Lake Sihl is also part of the district; it covers an area of 10.81 square kilometres. So, as well as cultural discoveries in the village, the lake and Pre-Alpine landscape are part of the region’s appeal.

Experience Monastic History and Pilgrimage

The Baroque monastery complex and prominent parts of the village have a complex architectural history. The monastery square took on its present form from the mid-18th century onwards and was further adapted in the 19th and 20th centuries. If you are interested in the monastery’s history, you can explore the abbey church, the Chapel of Grace, the Black Madonna and the abbey library on a tour organised by the Einsiedeln Tourist Office. The library is not normally open to the public; check tour times before your trip.

Writing and bookmaking are also part of the monastery experience: the scriptorium in the main building includes a museum area with exhibits that visitors can partly touch. Workshops offer an introduction to writing historical scripts with a quill and ink; advance registration is required. The monastery square and the exhibition themes reveal different aspects of Einsiedeln’s history. The Feast of the Angel’s Consecration is held at the monastery every year, but its date varies from year to year.

Museums and Local Traditions

At the Fram Museum, the exhibition, set against the history of this place of pilgrimage, tells the stories of researchers and inventors, publishers and priests, as well as theatre-makers and musicians. The Chärnehus offers a different perspective on local history, with ongoing exhibitions about Einsiedeln and its people. The exhibition group puts on an exhibition around Christmas about every two years; themes and dates vary.

The Schafbock and Gingerbread Museum at the “Goldapfel” brings together the art of baking and the tradition of pilgrimage. Historical machines, original documents and baking utensils from around the turn of the century illustrate these themes. The “Goldapfel” also makes and sells traditional Einsiedeln gingerbread and the distinctive Schafbock, made from sweet honey dough. Opening hours vary by season. The Panorama Einsiedeln adds a large-scale religious subject to the museum experience; its opening hours may vary by season.

Discover Regional Specialities

On a public tour of the Einsiedeln Dairy, you can get a live look at cheese production, see the maturing cellar where mountain cheese is stored, and take part in a cheese and yoghurt tasting. Booking is recommended. The FoodTrail Einsiedeln focuses on something different: this culinary treasure hunt takes about four hours and combines tastings of regional specialities with interesting facts about the village’s history. Groups may need to book in advance. A behind-the-scenes look at production and a culinary discovery tour therefore differ in their approximate duration and format.

Between Pilgrim Trails and the Plateau

Around Einsiedeln, hiking trails lead through moorland and forests and over gentle hills. The Way of St. James passes through Einsiedeln; on the fourth stage of the ViaJacobi, the route comes here from Rapperswil via Etzel Pass and crosses Switzerland’s longest wooden footbridge. A hike to Etzel can start in the monastery village of Einsiedeln. After the climb, the 1,098-metre-high Hoch-Etzel offers panoramic views of the Alpine range, Lake Sihl and Lake Zurich. Visibility depends on the weather; take seasonal trail conditions into account when planning your hike.

The Sihl ErlebnisWeg offers a different perspective on the landscape: its third stage leads from Willerzell across Lake Sihl and through the Roblosen moorland to Einsiedeln. Together with the ViaJacobi, it offers different routes and starting points, though the two trails do not follow the same path.

Winter Trails and Regattas

There are eight cross-country ski trails in and around Einsiedeln, prepared for both classic and skating techniques. They range from two to 22 kilometres in length. One specific shorter route is the two-kilometre Bolzberg–Trachslau experience trail: it has seven stations that encourage children and their parents to take part and try things out. The season and snow conditions can vary; check conditions before travelling. The sailing club holds two major regatta weekends at Lake Sihl every year, with national and international participants. Check the dates for your travel year in advance.

If you are travelling by car, the Richterswil and Schindellegi exits on the A3 are useful reference points: Einsiedeln is less than 15 minutes away from there. Traffic and road conditions may affect the journey.

Discover more destinations: Einsiedeln, Bennau, Höfe, Küssnacht, March, Gersau, Schwyz.

Back to the main travel overview: Schwyz.