Who is responsible for maintaining the quality of the place?

Einsiedeln is the most popular pilgrimage site in Switzerland. Its abbey square is considered the most important sacred square north of the Alps. The imposing Marienbrunnen fountain – also known as the Frauenbrunnen, the Fountain of Our Lady – stands in the centre of the gently ascending square in front of the Baroque abbey church. Since 2007, the municipality of Einsiedeln and the monastery have been working on the redevelopment of the abbey square. By 2026, the abbey square will be renovated and the seven-sided Marienbrunnen fountain will also be more accessible for wheelchair users.

Can the place be reached on foot or by bicycle?

People have been making pilgrimages to Einsiedeln on foot for centuries. An impressive network of historic pilgrimage routes from near and far bears witness to this. The Meinradweg has also been in existence for several years. This cycle path follows the route of Saint Meinrad, passing through various stations in Switzerland on the way from Rottenburg am Neckar in Germany to Einsiedeln. Once there, many pilgrims circle the Marienbrunnen fountain, taking a drink from each of the 14 water pipes.

Is the place maintained and sustainably developed?

The Marienbrunnen was restored in 2013 and its colour returned to its 19th century state. The surfaces of the fountain are no longer just grey, but also partly black. The play of light and dark colours gives the fountain a dramatic air. In 2013, the statue of the Virgin Mary, the crown above the statue, and the rosettes were regilded, the 14 gargoyles were restored and the fountain was fitted with LED lighting.

Will the place remain attractive in the long term for living, working, leisure and/or tourism?

Einsiedeln attracts many believers every year. But theatre enthusiasts also come year after year to see Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s allegorical play The Great Theatre of the World, which was first performed here in 1924. The abbey square, with its central stairway and two side arcades, becomes the stage for the performance. The audience seating is arranged in a semicircle around the perimeter of the abbey square. The permanent and temporary structures coalesce to form a kind of amphitheatre like those found at sites from antiquity.

Does the place bring different people together?

The monastery complex is a testament to a rich architectural culture, and it is visited by believers and non-believers, locals, and travellers from far and wide. The complex includes large representative buildings as well as smaller structures such as the Marienbrunnen fountain. There are numerous fountains in every town and community in Switzerland. They quench people’s thirst with clean, free drinking water. The small basins at the bottom of the Marienbrunnen also allow dogs to drink fresh water.

Was the place thoroughly analysed prior to the intervention?

After a long planning process and appeals all the way to the Federal Supreme Court, planning permission for the final and central part of the abbey square was granted in June 2024. The conflict between barrier-free accessibility and heritage protection illustrates how difficult it is to reconcile historical design with comprehensive wheelchair accessibility. The Federal Supreme Court based its decision on an expert opinion from the Federal Commission for the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage and the Federal Commission for the Preservation of Monuments. The commissions concluded that the proposed design takes into account both the interests of the Disability Discrimination Act and the demands of heritage conservation.

Is the place notable for its distinctiveness?

The Abbey of Einsiedeln is one of the most important Baroque monasteries in Europe and the most famous Baroque building in Switzerland. The abbey square is the second largest monastery forecourt in Europe after St. Peter’s Square in Rome and is a destination for pilgrims from all over the world. Since its creation around 1750, the square has repeatedly undergone changes. The abbey complex is listed in the Register of Monuments, Ensembles and Archaeological Sites of National Importance.

Does the place have an atmospheric impact on the beholder?

Elevated above the village, the Benedictine abbey is a prominent feature of the townscape and can be seen from afar. The monumental façade of the church and abbey dominates the expansive square. The concave stairway leads down from the church to the lower part of the square, in the centre of which is the Marienbrunnen fountain. The entire complex is impressive in size and design.