Bennau is a village in the Canton of Schwyz and belongs to the district and municipality of Einsiedeln. Different themes take centre stage during a stay: the history of St. Sebastian’s Church, local cultural life and winter activities at the ski lift. There are also plenty of options for planning excursions in the wider region.

St. Sebastian and Bennau’s History

The St. Sebastian quarter church stands in the settlement of Bennau, on the edge of the Bennauer Boden plateau. The present-day church was consecrated in 1895 in the Neo-Gothic style. It is classified as regional in the cantonal heritage inventory. Protection objective I requires the unaltered preservation of its exterior and interior structural elements, spatial layouts and permanent fixtures. The inventory rates its artistic, cultural and architectural-historical significance, as well as its contribution to the townscape, as exceptionally high.

The history of the sacred building goes back further: following the plague epidemic in the early 17th century, the first chapel on Bennauer Boden was built in 1611. For centuries, the pilgrimage route used by people from Alsace, Baden and Swabia also passed through Bennau. The present-day Neo-Gothic church is thus connected with the village’s older religious history and a historic pilgrimage route.

Ski Lifts and Winter Planning

The Bennau ski lift is located right in front of the Bennau quarter. When snow conditions are good, it takes visitors to the mountain station at an altitude of 1,056 metres. The Schnabelsberg ski lift is located directly on Schnabelsberg, along the route from Einsiedeln towards Bennau. The two locations can be distinguished as follows: the altitude of the mountain station is specified for the Bennau lift, while the Schnabelsberg lift is identified by its location along the route. Good snow conditions are the explicitly stated requirement for the Bennau lift.

Schwantenau in the Wider Region

In the wider Einsiedeln region, Schwantenau is described as Switzerland’s fourth-largest raised bog and a habitat for rare animals and plants. An easy hike from Einsiedeln to Biberbrugg passes through the Schwantenau nature reserve and takes about three hours. It is therefore a separate regional destination for an excursion, not a tour to be equated with the ski lifts in Bennau. If you would like to include a longer walk in your trip, you can take this approximate duration into account when planning your day.

Bennau itself lies on the northern edge of the Rothenthurm raised bog, where the Alp and Biber rivers meet. Together with Schwantenau, this gives the wider region’s landscape a clear connection to bogs and waterways; the hike is specifically located between Einsiedeln and Biberbrugg.

Theater and Music in Local Cultural Life

Regular theater performances are part of Bennau’s cultural life. Theaterlüt vo Bennau offer public performances that are open to everyone; they take place in the assembly hall at Bennau schoolhouse. If a performance is the reason for your trip, check the dates in advance.

Feldmusik Bennau is also part of local cultural life. Its annual concert at the end of November is a regular feature of the yearly program. Check the specific date and venue before visiting. This lets you include a recurring cultural event in your plans without committing to a particular date.

Getting There and Accommodation Address

Bennau is accessible via Biberbrugg on the SOB railway and by PostBus from Einsiedeln. Check the appropriate timetable before setting off, based on your starting point. Bennau Campground is located at Burgerenstrasse 10, 8836 Bennau.

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