Façade of Einsiedeln Abbey

Since the Middle Ages, the Benedictine monastery of Einsiedeln in the Canton of Schwyz has consistently been Switzerland's most famous pilgrimage destination. Monastic and devotional life as well as the abbey's economy flourished especially in the decades around 1700. In this propitious situation, one of the lay brothers at the monastery, Caspar Moosbrugger, drew up plans to enlarge and partly rebuild the abbey and its church in the Baroque style. These plans were realized between 1704 and 1734 by Moosbrugger's brother Johann.

Baroque façade of the Abbey Church at Einsiedeln, Switzerland, colour photograph, November 23, 2019, photographer: Kilian Harrer; source: private ownership.