Convent of St. John, Val Müstair

The history of the Convent of St. John in Müstair dates back over 1,200 years. The convent is inhabited by Benedictine nuns to this day and was declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. The convent is the most significant church dating from the last millennium in Switzerland and possesses the largest fresco cycle of the early Middle Ages preserved to this day.

Details

From Chur, take the Rhaetian railway via Landquart – Klosters through the Vereina tunnel to Sagliains, where a regional train brings you to Zernez. There you take a Post Bus through the Fuorn Pass to Müstair, directly to the convent. Total travel time: 3 hours.

Museum opening times:

November – April, 10:00 – 12:00, 13:30 – 16:30;

Sundays and public holidays, 13:30 – 16:30.

May – October, 09:00 – 12:00, 13:30 – 17:00;

Sundays and public holidays, 13:30 – 17:00.

Church opening times:

May – October, 07:00 – 20:00;

November – April, 07:00 – 17:00

Recommended hike around the excursion destination

Senda Val Müstair
around 6 hours. (20 km), ascent around 200 metres, descent around 1,000 metres. This is a glorious panoramic hike on the sunny side of the valley. First take the Post Bus as far as Süsom Givè in the Fuorn Pass (Pass dal Fuorn, 2,149 metres above sea level). The Senda Val Müstair trail starts here, and leads to the Alp da Munt, and on to the Lai da Juata at 2,260 metres above sea level. Then you descend to Alp Champatsch as far as Lü, the highest municipality in Europe at 1,920 metres above sea level. The trail leads through the municipality of Valchava down to Müstair.

Dining recommendation

Restaurant Hirschen
7534 Lü
Tel. +41 81 858 51 81
www.val-muestair.ch

Tip: Overnight in the convent's guesthouse

The convent's guesthouse has nine rooms. They welcome individuals as well as couples. You are in charge of planning your stay at the convent according to your own needs and interests. You will enjoy your meals in the dining room together with our other visitors. They welcome your participation in the monastic prayer and eucharist. The chapel is available for quiet and meditation.

More about overnight in the convent's guesthouse