Wettingen Abbey

Wettingen Abbey, historically known as Kloster Wettingen and in Latin as Stella Maris, was a prominent Cistercian monastery located in Wettingen, within the Swiss canton of Aargau. Founded in 1227 by monks from Salem Abbey, it was established on lands provided by Count Heinrich II of Rapperswil. The monastery quickly grew, acquiring possessions and legal authority in various regions, including the Limmat valley.

History and Significance

The abbey's history is marked by periods of both prosperity and significant challenges. In the early 16th century, it faced severe financial difficulties, exacerbated by a fire in 1507 that damaged parts of the complex. A notable spiritual event during this time was the miraculous survival of the Infant Jesus of Wettingen painting from the blaze. The abbey also underwent religious shifts, with many monks converting to the reformed faith in 1529, followed by a re-Catholicization and a period of nominated abbots after the Second War of Kappel in 1531.

A revival occurred under Abbot Peter Schmid (1594–1633), during which the buildings were restored and expanded, and intellectual life flourished with the opening of a school of philosophy and theology and the establishment of a printing press. The abbey also served as a sanctuary, providing shelter to thousands of refugees during the turmoil following the French Revolution.

Dissolution and Legacy

In 1803, Wettingen Abbey came under the control of the newly formed Canton of Aargau. Despite initial assurances of its continuation, increasing financial demands from the cantonal government led to the ban on accepting novices and the closure of the abbey school. On January 13, 1841, the cantonal parliament decreed the dissolution of all monasteries in Aargau, resulting in the Aargau Monastic Conflict. The monks, including Alberich Zwyssig, composer of the Swiss national anthem, were forced to depart, and the abbey's extensive library was transferred to the Aargau Canton Library.

The monastic community re-established itself on June 8, 1854, at the secularised monastery of Mehrerau in Bregenz, Austria, a foundation that continues today as Wettingen-Mehrerau Abbey. The original buildings in Wettingen were repurposed for educational use, first by a teachers' training college and later by the Wettingen Canton School, which occupies them since 1976. The former abbey church continues to host weekly Catholic services and weddings. The buildings are recognized as a heritage site of national significance and are open to the public, offering tours that showcase historical elements like the Konversenkirch and its stained glass, as well as the ancient cloister garden.