UNESCO World Heritage

Benedictine Convent of St John in Müstair

The nuns open their doors

According to legend, the monastery complex in Val Müstair in the canton of Grisons, was founded in the 8th century by Charlemagne and was never fully destroyed. Well preserved, it still reveals building styles from several eras, and holds art treasures from more than twelve centuries. The wall paintings in the convent church were decisive for its acceptance on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is the largest and best-preserved fresco cycle from the early Middle Ages. The nuns are still active in the convent today in the spirit of “ora et labora”, pray and work. Convent life, cultivation, the museum, research and restoration all merge to form a unique whole.

 

Factsheet
Date of Inscription

1983

Criteria of Inscription

iii

Category

Cultural Heritage

Region

Grisons

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Visitor centre
Convent of St John in Müstair
Twelve hundred-years of convent, architectural and art history Convent Museum The convent’s museum is located in the Planta Tower, an over one-thousand-year-old ...
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Guided tour
Convent of St John in Müstair
The church - the heart of the convent Originally the convent church was reserved exclusively for the convent. Today it ist a parish church, and therefore open ...
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Destination
Convent of St John in Müstair
Programme suggestion to discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Benedictine Convent of St John in Müstair" in one day.   11:00 - 14:00 ...
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Destination
Convent of St John in Müstair
Programme suggestion to discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Benedictine Convent of St John in Müstair" in one day.   11:00 - 15:00 ...
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Destination
Convent of St John in Müstair
Programme suggestion to discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Benedictine Convent of St John in Müstair" in one day.   08:29 - 12:22 ...
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Good to know
Convent of St John in Müstair
The convent complex in Val Müstair, Grisons, combines building styles and art treasures from more than 12 centuries. The wall paintings in the convent church ...
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Good to know
Convent of St John in Müstair
Criterion (iii): The Benedictine Convent St. John in Müstair is one of the most coherent architectural works of the Carolingian period and High Middle ...
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Our heritage
Convent of St John in Müstair
How did you get to Müstair? I have been living and working in the easternmost tip of Switzerland for nine years. With the monastery I have found a place that ...
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Good to know
Convent of St John in Müstair
The life in a convent A convent life is a community life, a structured life, with a balanced mix of prayer, work and spiritual reading Since its foundation in ...
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Guided tour
Convent of St John in Müstair
Chapel of the Holy Cross - a Carolingian jewel Nowadays the chapel of the Holy Cross is set apart from the pathway to the church, but in the 8th century it ...
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Good to know
Convent of St John in Müstair
History The Val Müstair, in the canton Graubünden, connects the Fuorn Pass and the Vinschgau Valley, in the Italian province of South Tyrol. Today ...
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Good to know
Convent of St John in Müstair
A short film by the Swiss Commission for UNESCO
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Museum
Convent of St John in Müstair
Exploring the church on your screen allows you to view many detailed pictures and read detailed descriptions of the church furnishings, architecture and paintings. ...
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Good to know
Convent of St John in Müstair
The convent of St. John in Müstair is testament to the golden age of Christianity around 800 and is a cultural heritage of humanity over the ages. It is much ...
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