Author: Maarten Koning

Engelberg Abbey

The Benedictine abbey of Engelberg is located in a mountain valley at the foot of the Titlis (canton of Obwalden). The monastery was supported (financially) by the nobleman Konrad von Sellenbüren and founded in 1120 by monks from Muri under Abbot Adelhelm. The village of Engelberg then came into being and prospered.

In the middle of the 12th century, monks from the abbey of St. Blasien (Black Forest) reformed the monastic life. Abbot Frowin (1147-1178) founded a scriptorium, which flourished under his leadership and that of his successors, Berchtold (1178-1197) and Heinrich (1197-1223). The abbey was a monastery for men and women for a long time. However, the women’s community moved to Sarnen (St. Andreas Monastery) in 1615.

Outside the valley, the abbey primarily owned properties in Nidwalden, Lucerne, Aargau, and Zurichgau. Since its foundation, the abbey has played a central role in the Engelberg valley, both politically, religiously, and economically.

Until the French Revolution, the abbot was lord of the valley. In 1798, the villages in the valley gained political independence. Initially, the abbey was located in Nidwalden. Due to the resistance of this canton to the new confederation of 1815, the valley and the monastery were handed over to Canton Obwalden. The present Baroque monastery complex was built after the great fire in 1729.

(Source: Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Engelberg Kloster, https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/008557/2011-03-31; www. kloster-engelberg.ch).

 

Nidwalden in the twentieth Century

The canton of Nidwalden repeatedly chose its way to remain independent. In 1798, Nidwalden rejected the Helvetic Republic (1798-1803) imposed by the French occupiers. The canton even waged war against Napoleon. The battle of 9 September 1798 claimed more than 400 Nidwaldner lives and caused long-term trauma.

In 1815, troops of the Swiss Confederation entered the canton and demanded acceptance of the Federal Treaty (Bundesvertrag). In 1845, the canton joined with six other Catholic cantons in the Sonderbund, which waged war with the (reformed) cantons of the Confederation in 1847.

The canton refused to join the new Confederation in 1848. The development of a small rural canton into a modern state was always fraught with obstacles. In addition to self-assertion and independence, there was a struggle for the privileges of the ruling Catholic-conservative elite.

Times are changing rapidly, however. In 1954, the Landsgemeinde voted in favour of a better connection to the rest of the country. The population demanded a better road and rail network and even accepted the loss of autonomy.

Progressive personalities and outstanding pioneering works witness the canton’s modern (political) development. The canton became a (European) transit canton with a good connection to the railway and motorway network. The cantonal constitution of 1965, which received nationwide attention, was modern.

On 1 December 1996, the people of Nidwalden abolished the Landsgemeinde, a democratic institution for self-determination that had existed for over 600 years. Another sign of the will to reform.

(Source: Nidwaldner Museum, Stans).

Stans and Nidwalden

The village of Stans is the capital of Canton Nidwalden. It is the oldest settlement in the Nidwalden Valley. The Roman name was Stagnum. The Alemanni settled in the 7th and 8th centuries, during which time they built the first churches.

The Tagsatzung of Stans (meeting of the eight cities/Orte of the Confederation/Eidgenossenschaft) led to the Treaty of Stans (die Verkommnis) in 1481 and the Formation of the Confederation, comprising ten members.

The Verkommnis is the treaty of the eight old members of the Confederation that, together with the other alliance with Freiburg and Solothurn, ended state formation (until 1501).

The construction of the Rosenberg, the Fruenzhaus, the Oberhaus, the Zeigerhaus, the Busingerhaus, the town hall (Rathaus), Winkelriedhaus, the Leuw ‘sches Haus, the Wammer ‘sches Haus, the Zeiger ‘sches Haus, the presbytery, the Capuchins, and the nunnery took place between the 13th and 18th centuries.

The early Baroque parish church of St. Peter and Paul was built between 1642 and 1647.

The Ossuary is a chapel dating from the 15th to 16th century. On the east side is a memorial plaque with the Ars Moriendi for the victims of the French invasion of 1798.

(Source: Historisches Lexicon der Schweiz, Stanser Verkommnis (www.hls-dhs-dss.ch); www.stans.ch).

Battlefield Chapel in Sempach

According to tradition, the chapel (Schlachtkapelle) in Sempach stands on the spot where Duke Leopold III. (1343-1386) was killed. A memorial to him and other fallen Austrian nobles was erected a year after the battle.

The actual construction of the chapel dates from 1472/to 1473. Renovations are documented for the years 1551-1554, 1638-1641, and 1747. The present ceiling, floor and benches date from 1885-1886. The chapel was restored in preparation for the 600th anniversary celebrations in 1996.

The ossuary was built in 1594. It served to preserve bones from the battlefield. They took the body of Duke Leopold to the monastery Köningsfelden (Frauenfeld, canton Thurgau). The procession that followed the annual church service stopped at the three stone crosses around the chapel.

After the victorious battle in Sempach on 9 July 1386, Lucerne’s Great Council (Grosse Rat) declared this day a public holiday. Over the centuries, the commemoration was repeatedly adapted. After this victory, Lucerne began to expand its territory in small steps and consolidate its hold.

Through the establishment of bailiwicks,  the collection of taxes and the payment of liens, the countryside was gradually freed from Habsburg rule and transformed into the territory of Lucerne.

Source: Schlachtkapelle.

Habsburg, the Confederation and the Eternal Peace

In the Late Middle Ages, large parts of Central Switzerland, including the present-day canton of Lucerne, still formally belonged to the Habsburg dominion. Under Duke Leopold III (1351-1386), the Habsburgs tried to get a better grip on their territories after the foundation of the Confederation and the lost battle in 1315 (Morgarten).

At the same time, the Swiss cantons and cities endeavoured to expand their influence. Lucerne, Zurich, Schwyz, Unterwalden (Obwalden and Nidwalden), and Glarus undertook raids and military expeditions against the Habsburgs.

Leopold III then marched on Lucerne. On 9 July, he met troops from Lucerne and the Waldstätten above Sempach. Little is known about the course of the battle. Only Leopold’s death and defeat are certain.

The victory of the Confederation at Sempach strengthened their position but by no means meant the end of Habsburg’s presence in this region. The Habsburgs suffered a second major defeat on 9 April 1388 near Näfels (Canton Glarus). In 1415, the Confederation conquered Aargau, and in 1460, Thurgau.

Habsburg formally gave up these territories in the “Ewige Richtung” (eternal Peace) in 1474. In 1499, the Swabian War (Schwabenkrieg) ended the Habsburg rule in Switzerland (except for a few abbeys and allies and territories), Unterengadin and Münstertal (1652), Fricktal (1803), Tarasp (1803) and Rhäzüns (1819).  

The chapel mural is attributed to Hans Ulrich Wägman (1583-1648). It was painted during the reconstruction of 1638-1641.

The painting depicts troops of the Confederation on the left, with the hero Winkelried and the fallen Duke Leopold III in the centre, in front of him. On the far right, fleeing knights can be seen; on the left of the painting, soldiers of the Confederation.

St. Michael Abbey Beromünster

According to tradition, the (first) monastery was founded in 720. Around the year 1000, the construction of the present church began.

This place (Chorherrenstift Beromünster) has grown into an impressive religious and cultural site. The canons do not belong to any order but are world priests. Until 1806, they were mainly nobility or patricians.

The collegiate church is a Romanesque columnar basilica dating back to 1036, featuring a crypt and richly carved choir stalls from 1609.

The altars, the pulpit, the baptismal font and the three organs are of excellent artistic quality. The collegiate church, which has undergone several reconstructions, is one of Switzerland’s most beautiful Rococo buildings.

The complex comprises nearly 40 buildings and features numerous remarkable works of art. The owner is a foundation that has been in existence for over 1,000 years. The architecturally unique complex is a national and cantonal monument.

(Source: www.beromuenster.ch).

The Historical Buildings of Sursee

Sursee (Canton of Lucerne) is rich in historical buildings, ranging from late Gothic to the 20th century. The Capuchin Museum is situated within the monastery, which dates back to 1606-1608, and is dedicated to the life and history of the Capuchins.

The Town Hall and Market House were built between 1539 and 1546 by master builder Jakob Zumsteg in the late Gothic style. The interior is enriched with ornate furniture. The building is one of the most important monuments of this style in Switzerland.

The octagonal staircase tower was raised in 1634 and equipped with a baroque spire. Above the portal is a copy of Wilhelm Ymer’s coat of arms relief, featuring the town’s patron, St. George, and the town coat of arms from 1482. The pillory is a reminder of medieval justice administration in the southeast corner.

(Source: www.sursee.ch).

The St. George Chapel in Sursee

One building was erected in 1497 as a two-storey ossuary. On the upper floor, known as the St. Martin’s Chapel, there is a decorated ceiling from 1497 by the Basel carpenter Ulrich Bruder (c. 1470-1519) and a Baroque altar by Hans Wilhelm Tüfel (1631-1695) from Sursee.

The cellar, which was formerly used as a storage place for bones, features a triptych from the late 15th century. From 1423 to 1807, the Einsiedlerhof was the residence of the Abt of Einsiedeln (today’s Schwyz canton). After 1807, it was used as a private residence, and since 1988, it has been owned by the parish.

The Sankturbanhof (Court of Sankturban/Saint Urban) was the official court of the Cistercian abbey of St. Urban (today’s canton of Jura). It was built around 1256. Between 1595 and 1598, the main building was rebuilt to feature a Renaissance-style banquet hall. Today, the court is a museum and cultural centre. The baroque church dates from the 17th century and is dedicated to St. George.

(Quelle: www.pfarrei-sursee.ch).

Moated Castle Wyher

The moated castle (Wasserschloss) Wyher is located outside the village of Ettiswiler (canton of Lucerne) on the road leading to the Rottal. The castle was first mentioned in a document from 1304. Several noble families of lower rank owned the castle during the High Middle Ages.

Wyher Castle and farm were owned for over 350 years by two patrician families from Lucerne, Feer (1480-1588) and Pfyffer von Altishofen (1588-1837). They designed the castle complex. In 1837, the castle and the farm passed to the Hüsler family. However, the complex gradually fell into disrepair.

At the end of the 20th century, the moated castle underwent several stages of renovation and was saved with the support of a foundation.

(Source: Wasserschloss Wyher, Ettiswiler)

St. Blasius Chapel on Burgrain

The chapel dedicated to St. Blasius (Alberswil, canton of Lucerne) was the first place of worship on the Burgrain.

The chapel was built in the 13th century. The patronage of the chapel belonged to the monastery of Disentis (now Canton Graubünden) until 1330. It passed to the Cistercian monastery of St. Urban (now in the canton of Jura) in 1384.

The present chapel dates from 1682. However, many interior furnishings date back to the original construction (13th century). When the monastery of St. Urban was dissolved in 1848, the chapel was transferred to the Canton of Lucerne.

For centuries the chapel was a popular place of pilgrimage. As a helper against throat diseases, it was one of the popular saints.

(Source: St. Blasius Chapel Burgrain)