Family Tours | “Hello, where are the angels?”
The family tour “Salve, Where Are the Angels?” opens the doors to a world full of history, stories, and little surprises. Children and adults immerse themselves in monastic life, encountering knights, abbots, monks, angels—and perhaps, God forbid, even the devil. Through role-playing and treasure hunts, the monastery becomes a place of imagination and shared discoveries.
Duration: approx. 60–75 minutes
Max. 20 participants
This tour is recommended for children ages 6 and up.
Data: “Hey, where are the angels?”
- •July 2, 2026 | 3:30 p.m.
- •July 9, 2026 | 3:30 p.m.
- •July 16, 2026 | 3:30 p.m.
- •July 23, 2026 | 3:30 p.m.
- •July 30, 2026 | 3:30 p.m.
- •August 6, 2026 | 3:30 p.m.
Guided tours of the monastery gardens
Hortus Conclusus – 900 Years in Tune with Nature
The Cultural Summer is complemented by exclusive garden tours under the title “Hortus Conclusus – 900 Years of Living in Harmony with Nature.”
The monastery garden offers a tangible reflection of monastic constancy. While the world outside the walls is changing at an ever-faster pace, the garden has followed the same cycle of growth and decay for centuries—characterized by tranquility, rhythm, and continuity.
Even though garden maintenance is now largely handled by lay staff, the Engelberg monastery garden is the result of a wealth of experience and knowledge. Not everything that grows in the lowlands thrives in this high valley at 1,000 meters above sea level.
During a guided tour, Monika Amstad, manager of the monastery garden, and Brother Thomas Stingelin, OSB, will introduce visitors to the monastery’s gardening traditions. This year, they will once again be joined by Daniela Kaiser, who has been tending the Capuchin nuns’ monastery garden in Stans for the past three years.
Duration: approx. 75–90 minutes
Number of participants: max. 20 people
Tour takes place: regardless of weather conditions
Dates for Guided Tours of the Monastery Gardens
- •July 3, 2026 | 3:30 p.m.
- •August 7, 2026 | 3:30 p.m.
Organ Summer 2026
In 2026, the Organ Summer will once again bring internationally renowned organists to Engelberg, where they will perform on Switzerland’s largest organ. Under the artistic direction of Jan Sprta, this year’s series will feature four concerts in July 2026.
The concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. in the monastery church. Admission is free. A collection will be taken at the end of the concert. We thank you for supporting this special cultural event.
Organ Summer 2026 Schedule
- •July 8, 2026 | Johannes Zeinler (Vienna)
- •July 15, 2026 | Andreas Jost (Zurich)
- •July 22, 2026 | Tomasz Zebura (Zurich)
- •July 29, 2026 | Alessandro Valoriani (Engelberg) & Jan Sprta (Stans)
Writing, Silence, and History - Introductory Calligraphy Course
A pen, ink, and a little patience: At Engelberg Abbey, you’ll immerse yourself in the world of calligraphy.
You’ll create your first pieces of calligraphy, discover the more than thousand-year-old tradition of monastic writing, and see how individual letters are transformed into small works of art. Creative, focused, and relaxing all at once. The course is led by historian M.A. Luca Stemig.
What to Expect
• Fascinating insights into the monastic tradition of writing
• Getting started with pen and ink
• Artfully designing letters and words
• Create your own card or personal quote
• Time for focus, creativity, and slowing down
The course is designed for teenagers aged 14 and older and adults.
Cost: CHF 60.00 per half-day course, including materials (paper, pen, and ink); lunch or dinner, including beverages as per the menu, is an additional CHF 40.00.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
- •9:00 a.m. Welcome & Introduction | Short tour of the monastery
- •9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Working with pen and ink | First writing exercises
- •12:00 p.m. Attend the monastic community’s midday prayer (optional)
- •12:15 p.m. Lunch in the guest dining hall
- •Closing Remarks and Farewell
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
- •3:00 p.m. Welcome & Introduction | Short tour of the monastery
- •3:45–5:45 p.m. Working with Pen and Ink | First Writing Exercises
- •6:00 p.m. Attend the monastic community’s evening prayer (optional)
- •6:30 p.m. Dinner in the guest dining hall
- •Closing Remarks and Farewell
Writing, Silence, and History - Weekend Calligraphy Workshop
Since the 12th century, writing, learning, and the sharing of knowledge have taken place at Engelberg Abbey. This tradition, dating back more than a thousand years, comes to life in a unique way through the calligraphy courses.
Historical insights into medieval calligraphy are combined with hands-on practice using pen and ink. This creates an inspiring introduction to calligraphy—creative, focused, and calming.
As a calligraphy weekend with an overnight stay at the monastery, this program invites you to immerse yourself in the world of writing and get to know the rhythm of monastic life. The course is led by historian M.A. Luca Stemig.
Cost: CHF 428.00 (2 nights in a single room with shower/toilet, including full board and the course from Friday to Sunday, plus material costs). CHF 408.00 per person in a double room with shower/toilet and CHF 368.00 in a single room for students up to 25 years of age
What to Expect
• Introduction to the history of monastic writing culture
• Hands-on practice with pen and ink
• Learning the basic forms of calligraphy
• Time for focused writing and quiet writing sessions
• Creating your own final calligraphy project
• Room and board at the monastery
This course is not a traditional class, but rather a holistic experience combining craftsmanship, history, silence, and concentration. It is designed for teenagers aged 14 and older (when accompanied by an adult) and adults. The course is suitable for both beginners and those with some prior experience.
Brief Overview of the Calligraphy Weekend, July 24–26, 2026
- •Friday, July 24, 2026 | Arrival, introduction to calligraphy, first exercises, evening prayer, and dinner together
- •Saturday, July 25, 2026 | Hands-on work with pen and ink, deepening knowledge of calligraphic forms, time for personal creative projects, participation in prayer services, shared meals, quiet evening time
- •Sunday, July 26, 2026 | Work on the final paper, quiet time, lunch, closing session, and farewell (around 1:30 p.m.)
Room Installation “Traces in Transition”
A contemplative installation in the monastery invites visitors to experience art and spirituality in a peaceful atmosphere.
The installation combines paintings and sculptures depicting Mary Magdalene and Martha/Dorothea as well as Brother Klaus—drawn from the monastery’s art archive and the studio of Fr. Eugen Bollin—with contemporary texts. Within the monastery’s Baroque architecture, a quiet journey unfolds, raising questions about time, change, and spirituality and leading into a space of conscious perception.
The installation will be accessible from June 27 to August 8, 2026, as part of guided tours and during guest stays at the monastery.