On Wettingen Monastery Island, monastic history, gardens and paths into the countryside come together. Wettingen Monastery, with its monastery church and outbuildings, is one of the best-preserved Cistercian monasteries in Switzerland and a cultural asset of international significance. Medicinal herbs, spices, flowers and certain vegetables grow in the medicinal herb garden. The garden is open free of charge year-round; check access information before your visit.
Monastery, Garden and Paths
On the monastery island, Museum Aargau offers interactive exhibitions, challenging tours, as well as guided tours and workshops on faith, power and knowledge. The visitor programme may change; check the current offerings for your visit. This lets you combine a visit to the monastery with different ways of exploring history and knowledge, without requiring any particular prior interest.
The seven-kilometre Limmat Cultural Trail walk passes over the monastery island. The route runs from the Neuenhofer Reservoir across the peninsula and through Baden’s old town to the municipality of Ennetbaden. Along the route, around 30 sculptures, three-dimensional artworks and site-specific art installations are on display. The permanent open-air art trail is maintained by its foundation and the participating municipalities.
The Ă„ngeli Trail starts at the monastery and leads to twelve outdoor sculptures, passing fountains, parks and playgrounds. The family outing is suitable for strollers. Alongside the longer cultural trail, it offers another way to enjoy outdoor sculptures on a walk.
Art and Local History
Since 1972, the gallery at Gluri Suter Huus has presented ongoing exhibitions of contemporary art in a striking half-timbered building in the centre of Wettingen village. Themed cabinet exhibitions at Gluri Suter Huus offer insights into the art collection of the municipality of Wettingen, which comprises more than 1,000 works. Contemporary art and changing glimpses into the collection are thus distinct aspects of the gallery’s programme.
Adult groups can book private tours of the current exhibition, including outside opening hours. As booking arrangements may change, check the options in advance.
The Eduard Spörri Museum displays sculptures, reliefs, paintings and drawings by Aargau sculptor Eduard Spörri in two spaciously designed exhibition rooms. Workshops accompanying the exhibitions are offered to school pupils, students and adults.
Wettingen’s history also includes the religious changes of the Reformation period: the village pastor and the abbot initially embraced the new denomination, followed by a large part of the population. After the Second War of Kappel, Wettingen and its monastery returned to Catholicism. In 1633, a Roman silver treasure consisting of eight vessels and numerous coins from the 3rd century was discovered near the monastery.
Vineyards, Wine and Other Activities
The Wettingen Vineyards Educational Trail takes you on a walk through Wettingen’s vineyards, offers views of Wettingen and the Limmat Valley, and shares information about the vineyard year. It starts below Sonnenblick and follows Mooshaldenstrasse towards Schartenfels.
A wine tasting is held at Grafeguet every year from Friday to Saturday on the first weekend in November. Raclette or fondue can be enjoyed in the cosy wine cellar. The Räbhüslifest is tied to a different point in the year: it is traditionally held in Wettingen’s vineyards on the Sunday before the school summer holidays, where Wettingen’s winegrowers host visitors in their own vineyard huts.
The two Tägi facilities also differ clearly in the activities they offer. Tägi Outdoor Pool has a swimming pool with eight lanes, each 50 metres long. As facilities may change following renovations, check the pool details before your visit. Tägi Ice Rink has two ice rinks, one covered and one outdoors. When choosing between the facilities, you can start with the activity you have in mind: swimming at the outdoor pool or skating on one of the two rinks, which have different levels of cover.
Discover more destinations: Ehrendingen, Killwangen, Remetschwil, Baden, Birmenstorf, Mellingen, Stetten, WĂĽrenlos.
Go to the main travel overview: Baden.
