Engelberg Monastery

Engelberg’s Monastery is central to the village’s entire existence and history, and the monastery is still run by Benedictine monks. We would thoroughly recommend that you give it a visit while you are here, and we can help you arrange this.

According to legend, the founder of the monastery, Konrad von Sellenbüren, heard angel voices telling him to build “a place dedicated to God” on the location known today as the Ochsen meadow.

After the monastery was built in around 1120, legend has it that the two abbots, Adelhelm and Konrad von Sellenbüren, were standing on the upper Erlen meadow, trying to think of a suitable name for their monastery. Suddenly, they again heard angel voices, and when they looked up to the Hahnen (the distinctive mountain overlooking the monastery), they saw a choir of angels, and heard them singing.

They promptly named the monastery and valley settlement “Engelberg” which means “mountain of angels” and that has been the village’s name ever since.

Aside from the monastery itself and its beautiful church, for something very different it is worth visiting the monastery cheese exhibition. There you can watch all stages of cheese production, from the warming of the milk through to the growing of the mould, then sample some of the finished cheese.

Also recommended is a visit to Engelberg’s heritage museum. There are regular exhibitions throughout the year as well as a permanent display depicting the history of life in Engelberg.

Swiss Traditions

Tradition and cultural celebrations are important in Switzerland, and especially in Central Switzerland.

Central Switzerland has a rich farming heritage and proud reputation for independence and self-reliance. Indeed, the communities of Central Switzerland played a key part in the formation of what is now known as Switzerland. On 1st August 1291 they forged an alliance to protect their independence and freedom from outside oppression. This alliance laid the foundation for the Swiss Confederation, as it exists today, and the date of 1st August is celebrated as Swiss National day.

Central Switzerland is proud of its farming heritage, and its role in the formation of Switzerland, and many of the traditions and cultural events which take place in and around Engelberg each year, celebrate this.

In the Summer months there are often traditional music festivals to enjoy in Engelberg, or in the towns further down the valley. Swiss National day is also a day of great celebration in Engelberg.

In September, the “Abzug” takes place. This is the day when the mountain farmers bring their cows down from the alpine meadows before the arrival of the Winter snow. The farmers wear traditional clothing, and the cows are dressed in huge cowbells and colourful head-dresses. As part of the celebration, some of the herds parade through the centre of Engelberg village, led by the oldest cow in the herd.

Central Switzerland is also the spiritual home of traditional Swiss wrestling, which is still a popular sport in Switzerland. Swiss wrestling has its roots in the farming community and competitions take place throughout the Summer months. Bouts take place on a ring of sawdust, and to win, participants most throw their opponent onto their back on the floor. In typical Swiss style, the victor traditionally celebrates his win by politely brushing the sawdust off the back of the loser, and the overall winner of the competition receives a prize bull.