Getting here Arriving by car For those arriving by car, disabled parking spaces are available on the premises of Königsfelden Psychiatric Services. These are only a few hundred metres away from the Le
Getting here Arriving by car We generally recommend arriving by car. The steeply sloping access to the castle courtyard is closed off with a barrier. Visitors with reduced mobility may enter the court
Getting here Arriving by car Visitors with reduced mobility can park at the rear entrance of the castle by appointment (follow the "Lieferanten/Behinderte" sign). From this entrance (ring the bell at
Getting here Arriving by car Visitors with reduced mobility may drive up to the castle gate. However, no parking spaces are available here. We kindly ask you to park your vehicle in the general car pa
Getting here Arriving by car Visitors with reduced mobility can park at the meeting centre of Königsfelden Psychiatric Services. From there it is about 4 minutes to the convent church on a level path.
Getting here Arriving by car Parking spaces for visitors with reduced mobility are available directly adjacent to the castle. There is also a disabled parking space in the general car park. Getting he
Getting here Arriving by car Parking spaces for people with reduced mobility are available at the Eisi multi-storey car park in the centre of Brugg. The short distance to the Vindonissa Museum is flat
Enjoy the unique ambience of Wildegg Castle in the bistro, on the loggia or the terrace facing the courtyard. Admission to the castle bistro during museum opening hours is free of charge. CHF, EUR and
Admission: Museum entrance fee Useful information The archaeological tour is included in the museum entrance fee . Registration is not required. Adults can also complete the tour without the treasure
Opening hours Regular opening hours Monday closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 1 pm – 5 pm For schools and groups on request additionally 10 – 12 midday Saturday closed Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm *Spe
1 out of 19
Abbey church
Converse andmonks' church
Wettingen Abbey church was consecrated in 1256 and rebuilt several times. It is one of the few early and high medieval abbey churches in Switzerland that have preserved their original building fabric.
Wettingen Abbey church is divided by an imposing rood screen into a spiritual and a secular area:
The converse church (rear part of the nave) was already open to the public when the abbey still existed. The red-brown rood screen, with its magnificent altars and paintings, provides a ceremonial setting for church services, concerts or weddings.
The monks' church (front section of the nave) was reserved for the monks and clergy.
The abbey church can be visited freely, and church services are held here regularly. The monks' church is part of the museum (admission fee payable). For more information, see Opening hours and admission fees.
The exterior of the church still preserves much of its sober early Gothic layout from the 13th century, but shows the interventions of modern times. The portal on the porch, renewed in 1760, adds a special Baroque touch, with a group of figures of Our Lady and the founders of the order, St. Bernard and Robert of Molesme.
The ridge turret crowned by an onion dome dates from the same period. Next to the main portal is a plaque in honour of Alberich Zwyssig, composer of the Swiss Psalm and Cistercian monk.
Converse church (lay church)
The basic Gothic structure of the church can still be seen in the ribbed vaulting of the side aisles and the row of columns with pointed arches. The interior of the Romanesque-Gothic basilica has been fitted out in the Baroque style. Ornamental bands and stucco figures of saints, on the other hand, are later additions. The rich illustration follows clear rules.
View into the converse church. (Wettingen Cantonal School)
The abbey owes its name and coat of arms to its founding legend (see abbey history). The large panel painting also refers to this legend. This hangs on the west wall of the lay church and depicts the "stormy sea voyage" as well as the appearance of the Stella Maris.
In the centre of each of the two side aisles is an image related to the transfer of the relics of Marianus and Getulius in 1651. In the north aisle, the grisaille painting by the artist Rudolf Schwerter from Baden, created around that time, is a direct reminder of the transfer. The anonymous painting of monumental proportions on the opposite side commemorates the 100th anniversary of the transfer. This celebration was one of the most magnificent Baroque festivities in Aargau. From this time on, the church was also open to the general public for the first time.
Also in the converse church are two stone sarcophagi of the houses of Kyburg and Habsburg, as well as floor grave slabs from the 13th century.
Monks' church
The centre of the high altar is the scene of an Assumption, against the background of light falling through the windows. The chapel altars, the abbot's throne and celebrants' seats form a coherent whole with the high altar.
Choir stalls
The richly carved choir stalls are especially celebrated. Their rectangular arrangement is entirely Renaissance. Gothic features can still be seen in the elongated robed figures beneath the column arcades. In the carvings, a humorous artist's fantasy unfolds in tendril friezes, animals, grimaces, arabesques and fruit hangings.
The imposing monks' church in Wettingen Abbey. (Wettingen Cantonal School)
Bells
In the abbey church of Wettingen there are a total of eight bells that form a complete C major scale. The bells are located behind the blinds, which are clearly visible to the naked eye from the outside. In the onion dome itself there are four bells.
As is common practice, the bells strike every quarter of an hour. Swinging bells are only rung early on Saturday evenings and on Sundays, as well as on request for official occasions such as christenings, weddings for the entrance and exit of the bride and groom, or for funerals.
