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Our Camino / Way of St. James / Jakobsweg / Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle / Experience

E I N S I E D E L N

Since the middle ages, Einsiedeln has been one of Europe's most important pilgrim destinations and has always been a key stage on the Way of Saint James (Jakobsweg). It is famous for its Lady Chapel with its black Madonna. The monastery town lies in a between the Etzel and Haggenegg passes, with Lake Sihl next to it.

First arrival at Einsiedeln on the Jakobsweg

Links

Einsiedeln
(Wikipedia) Einsiedeln
(MySwitzerland) The Benedictine Monastery
Website in German The Benedictine Monastery
Website in German Short film about Brother Meinrad Brother Meinrad - A Life For Eternity
Documentary (2025)
German with English subtitles Meinradweg - a spiritual bicycle way
Four cycling stages of 5 to 8 hours each.
(Description in German) Tulipan B&B
Where we stayed - to be recommended

St. Meinrad, a Benedictine monk lived on the slopes of Mt. Etzel from 835 until his death in 861. The first abbot, Eberhard erected a monastery and church in 934, and the settlement of Einsiedeln is first mentioned in 1073. We first arrived here from Constance on 28th September 2018, returning on 31st May 2020, this time from Rorschach.

Later, Sue made contacts with the monastery, and was inaugurated as a pilgrim guide, and so we returned quite frequently!

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Our first arrival on 28th September 2018

Our first glimpse of Einsiedeln

Arrived at the abbey

Impressive facade

The Black Madonna

Our next arrival on 31st May 2020

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Sue's inauguration as a Pilgrim guide on 19th July 2020

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Sue was on duty at Christmas 2020, so we stayed a few days in a B&B

Where we stayed - to be recommended!

The nativity scene in the cupola

The black Madonna

The crib

The Abbey in the snow

Bird's eye view of the monastery

Sihlsee

Possible alternative accommodation

Sue was on duty at Easter 2021, so we stayed overnight

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