Bethanien Monastery
Discover Bethanien Monastery in Switzerland, an ideal place for a spiritual retreat or Christian retreat.
Between lake and mountains, experience a stay of prayer, silence, and renewal in the footsteps of Saint Nicholas of Flüe.
Retreats organized by the community
History of Bethanien Monastery and its welcoming mission
In the heart of Switzerland, on the sites where Saint Nicholas of Flüe and his wife Dorothy lived, the Chemin Neuf Community and the Dominican Sisters of Bethany welcome visitors in a unique setting between lake and mountains. This place is perfectly suited for a spiritual retreat, a time of contemplation, or a service stay shared with the community.
The Bethanien guest house was founded in the 1970s by the Dominican Sisters of Bethany, a congregation established in the 19th century by Blessed Father Lataste, apostle to prisons. It was built to accommodate both religious life and the many pilgrims coming to meditate in the footsteps of Saint Nicholas of Flüe, patron saint of Switzerland, who lived as a hermit in the 15th century and was instrumental in the unity of the emerging Swiss Confederation.
In 2012, an alliance united the Dominicans with the Chemin Neuf Community, a Catholic community with an ecumenical vocation founded in 1973, which then took over the direction of the guest house. Together, the two congregations continue to lead daily liturgical prayer, with the sisters particularly ensuring morning adoration in the crypt.
The house also contains a swimming pool and a gymnasium, formerly open to local residents.
Since May 2025, the renovated former swimming pool hosts an immersive show, Nicolas & Dorothée Alive, a 360° performance that presents, using 24 projectors, the story of Saint Nicholas and Dorothy through music, painting, and immersive art.
The Chemin Neuf Community and the Dominican Sisters of Bethany
Bethanien Monastery is led by eight members of the Chemin Neuf Community, in daily collaboration with seven Dominican Sisters of Bethany.
Together, they ensure liturgical prayer, welcome parish or ecumenical groups, businesses on seminar, as well as individuals on spiritual retreat or personal stays.
The rhythm of life is organized around morning office, Mass, and evening adoration.
The community dedicates itself both to managing hospitality and to daily tasks:
- house maintenance,
- cooking,
- gardening,
- accompanying retreatants,
- organizing spiritual sessions, particularly Spiritual Exercises according to Saint Ignatius.
What to expect during your stay
Spiritual retreats offered at Bethanien Monastery
The monastery welcomes stays from a few days to several weeks, according to guests' needs. The natural setting and life of communal prayer offer an environment particularly favorable to interior renewal.
Individual retreatants may participate in the offices, celebrated in German, and request spiritual guidance from a community member. The monastery also offers themed retreats:
- weekends for couples,
- weeks of Spiritual Exercises,
- retreats combining prayer and mountain hiking,
- extended rest periods incorporating participation in fraternal life.
The proximity of the Ranft, where Saint Nicholas of Flüe lived as a hermit, makes this a major site for discovering a spirituality centered on silence, inner peace, and discernment.
Monastery guest house
The guest house has approximately sixty rooms, single or double, with or without private bathrooms.
For longer stays (beyond one week), accommodation in the monastic section may be offered.
Guests have access to:
- the large chapel
- the crypt where adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place
- a library
- a recreation room
- several meeting rooms.
Meals are served in a dining room with panoramic views of Lake Sarnen and the surrounding Swiss Alpine peaks.
Geography and activities
A Christian retreat location in the heart of the Swiss Alps
Bethanien Monastery is located ten minutes by bus from the town of Sarnen, in an Alpine environment marked by the immediate proximity of the mountains. This privileged location allows guests to set out on hikes directly from the house.
Regular train and bus service also facilitates excursions to the city of Lucerne, ski resorts, and emblematic peaks of the Swiss Alps, such as Mount Pilatus.
Sites and activities accessible around Bethanien Monastery
The places marked by the life of Saint Nicholas of Flüe are about thirty minutes' walk away.
The monastery is also located on the Way of Saint James to Compostela, thus offering several possibilities for spiritual pilgrimage.
The city of Lucerne is accessible in twenty minutes by train, allowing guests to enjoy cultural activities, museums, and walks around Lake Lucerne.
Practical information
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