Rüeggisberg Abbey (Ruin)

The origins of Rüeggisberg Monastery date back to the 11th century. Around 1072, the monks Cono and Ulrich began constructing the first cells, made possible by a donation from Lütold von Rümligen. After 1100, construction of the Romanesque church commenced, completed around 1175. In the Middle Ages, the priory was among Switzerland's most important monastic buildings. A period of decline began in the late Middle Ages, and in 1484, it was incorporated into the Bern Minster collegiate church. The final closure occurred in 1541 with the Reformation, after which the monastery was used as a quarry and barn. Between 1938 and 1947, archaeological excavations uncovered the original foundations.