Discussion Lab Admission Museum entrance fee Registration Not required (recommended for schools) Hundreds of questions in one room Built around 1600, the Parlatorium was one of the few rooms in the abbey where speaking was once permitted. Today, Museum Aargau invites visitors here to engage in conversation about faith, power and knowledge – and poses hundreds of questions on these topics. Choose one of them and embark on a journey of discovery through the Parlatorium: through conversation, play, or via interactive text, image and film installations. The exhibition was developed in collaboration with pupils from the Wettingen Cantonal School, which is also based on the monastery peninsula. Their perspectives on the themes of faith, power and knowledge build bridges between this place's past and the present day. At the weekend, school pupils usually welcome visitors to the Parlatorium. They have been trained as hosts for this role. The Parlatorium at Wettingen Abbey was one of the few rooms in the abbey where speaking was once permitted.
Permanent exhibition Admission Museum entrance fee 0 A place of meditation with a significant series of stained-glass windows The well-preserved cloister, with its Romanesque and Gothic tracery, evokes the tranquillity that once characterised life within these walls. Small gravestones of monks buried here are set into the flagstone floor. At the heart of the cloister lies the idyllic cloister garden. The cycle of stained-glass windows in the cloister is particularly valuable. Private donors, friendly abbeys and the Swiss cantons have all donated these significant cabinet windows to Wettingen Abbey. The earliest examples date back to the 13th century. Cloister Chapel with the Wettingen Christ Child Above the altar of the Cloister Chapel hangs the sacred image of the "Wettingen Christ Child". The wooden painting miraculously survived the devastating abbey fire on White Sunday in 1507. The monks saw this as a sign from heaven. The "Christ Child", marked by burn holes, has been venerated ever since. The cloister at Wettingen Abbey: a significant series of stained-glass windows. An exhibition by Museum Aargau.
Permanent exhibition Admission Museum entrance fee Take a journey through the history of knowledge and belief At the Observatory, take a journey through the history of knowledge and belief in a cinematic installation. Together with a group of pupils from Wettingen Cantonal School, you will visit places that tell this story: from the earliest known cave paintings to the vastness of the World Wide Web. On this journey, you will discover how the monks of the Cistercian abbey understood knowledge in the Middle Ages – and how the expulsion of the monks from the abbey in 1841 was linked to new concepts of knowledge and power structures. Finally, you will return to the present day, amidst the challenges we now face in the "knowledge society". In addition, a timeline provides an insightful and varied account of the history of Wettingen Abbey. Selected objects also offer a glimpse into the collection of Museum Aargau. At the Observatory at Wettingen Abbey, take a journey through the history of knowledge and belief in a cinematic installation.
Permanent exhibition Admission Museum entrance fee 0 Renowned for its richly carved choir stalls The monks' church forms part of the abbey church and was once accessible only to monks and clergy. It is renowned for its richly carved choir stalls: their clean, angular design is in keeping with the Renaissance style. If you look closely, you will discover some surprising motifs – such as a dog playing the flute, or a cat covering its ears. Objects from the abbey's history In the monks' church, Museum Aargau is exhibiting selected items from its collection, supplemented by significant loans from the Roman Catholic parish of Wettingen. The exhibition focuses on precious items from the abbey's treasury, which offer a rare insight into the religious and cultural life of the monks. It traces the eventful history of Wettingen Abbey – from its foundation through to its dissolution, and on to its present-day role as a cantonal school. The monks' church at Wettingen Abbey is renowned for its richly carved choir stalls.
Price Admission free 0 An imposing 13th-century church Wettingen Abbey church was consecrated in 1256 and has been rebuilt several times. It is one of the few early and high medieval abbey churches in Switzerland that has retained its original structure. The church is divided into a sacred and a secular section by an imposing rood screen: the monks' church, with its famous carved choir stalls, was formerly reserved for monks and clergy. The lay church, the secular part of the monastery church, boasts magnificent altars and paintings. The abbey church can be visited during museum opening hours without paying the museum admission fee . The monks' church is part of the museum (admission fee applies). Wettingen Abbey church was consecrated in 1256 and has been rebuilt several times. It is one of the few early and high medieval abbey churches in Switzerland that has retained its original structure.
Experience interactive exhibitions and tours at Wettingen Abbey. These activities are suitable for adults, families and schools. There are many ways to explore Wettingen Abbey (all tours start at the visitor centre): Exhibitions: a tour of the monks' church and cloister. The Parlatorium and Observatory offer a variety of perspectives on the themes of faith, power and knowledge. The restored abbot's house is also a real gem. "Historia" audio tour: interesting facts from 800 years of monastic history "The Hidden Message" puzzle tour (in German only): a challenging scavenger hunt for young and old alike Visit excluding the museum: an abbey brochure for a walk through the grounds is available at the visitor centre (price: CHF 6, in German only). Further details of these offers can be found below. Please also note our bookable offers for groups and schools . Opening hours 1 April to 1 November 2026 Tue – Sun, holidays: 10 am – 5 pm Mon: closed EXHIBITIONS Exhibition Abbey church Exhibition Monks' church Exhibition Cloister Exhibition Observatory Exhibition Abbot's house Exhibition Parlatorium COLLECTION Treasure trove of history Collection Site in German Collection online Egliswil Collection Centre Visit the collection Impressions
Children's museum and PLIRRK! Admission Museum entrance fee Notice The craft area closes at 4.30 pm. Children must be supervised. The paradise for knights and princesses! Children's museum The children's museum is located right up in the attic of Lenzburg Castle. There are lots of secret nooks and crannies, hidden staircases and oriels to explore. Children can dress up as knights or princesses, chase around the corridors and practise handicrafts and painting to their heart's content. Children's exhibition PLIRRK In the children's exhibition PLIRRK!, kids can immerse themselves in the world of explorers. They'll learn from the castle's last inhabitant, polar explorer Lincoln Ellsworth, about the hardships he had to endure on his 1925 North Pole expedition, and find out how to prevent vitamin deficiency on the high seas and navigate the open waters. The exhibition is made by children for children with financial support from the "Friends of Lenzburg" association. Fun and excitement guaranteed! Children's museum at Lenzburg Castle: The paradise for knights and princesses!
Experience Wettingen Abbey! Events and public guided tours take place regularly at the abbey. Calendar of events (in German) Contact +41 (0)848 871 200 Send a message Telephone availability: Tuesday to Friday 9 am - 12 pm / 1 pm - 4:30 pm November to March only in the morning
Audio-Tour Admission Museum entrance fee Duration of the entire tour Approx. 75 minutes 0 Discover Wettingen Abbey on the "Historia" audio tour Discover Wettingen Abbey on the "Historia" audio tour. 21 stops take you through the abbey church, the cloister, the medicinal herb garden and other outdoor areas. On the tour, you'll learn fascinating facts about 800 years of the abbey's history: from its founding and the monks' way of life right up to the present day. Discover Wettingen Abbey on the "Historia" audio tour.
ABBEY AND HISTORY From foundation to museum History Abbey church Converse and monks' church
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Habsburg Castle
Ancestral Seat of a Global Dynasty
The foundation stone of what was to become the Habsburg dynasty was laid at Habsburg Castle in around 1030. Exhibitions, guided tours and events present the history of the legendary castle and its noble family.
