When we arrived in Interlaken and went for our walk, the short cut from our hotel happen to take a route through some castle like buildings and a church, all this we had missed from earlier visits.
There has been a Monastery on this site since 1133, but its after the Reformation, when they closed the church in 1528 that interested me, as it explains the buildings that we see today. Part of the Monastery building were used as the headquarters of the district administration, while the rest was used as a hospital. In 1562-63 Bern converted the Monastery church choir into a granary and a wine cellar. In 1746-50 the west wing was demolished and Governor Samuel Tillier built the so-called new castle. It has remained the centre of administration for the Interlaken district since that time.
It would seem, that the Castle Church we could visit was built 1901-11, with the spire dating back to the former monastery church, but there was more history to the building. In 1563 when they used the church as a granary and wine cellar, a wall was erected between the nave and chancel, but in 1909 – 1911 the old nave was pulled down and new one erected in a neo-Gothic style. In 1950 the wall between the nave and chancel was removed and the whole church was renovated. I was a little disappointed, as I was hoping to see an older part of the church, there seemed to be a wooden wall back up, maybe renovations are being carried out behind the wall, but I can’t find any details. Still it was a cooling rest from the sun, before we started our walk back to our hotel.
Echoes of the Past 
It is interesting to me to see the country that my hubby’s greats on his mother’s side would have fled from for freedom of religion. Love those windows!
Thats interesting, and more so, for how far they travelled for their religion. Glad to show you some of the country, a little more to come yet 🙂 and yes the windows are beautiful 🙂
These are nice pictures – I especially like the inside ceiling arches and the way they are painted. The stained glass is also very pretty!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the photos. The ceiling was huge, it was difficult to really capture the true size of it 🙂
Such an interesting history of this church. I love to read these stories of how the cathedrals and churches of the past show the character and convictions of the community. Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you, it’s a very interesting site and the blocking up of the wall really got me interested, I wish there had been someone there to ask questions about it, maybe next time 🙂 Had a look at you blog and see that you do indeed like them too 🙂
What a wonderful post. The Monastery looks great. I am glad that You presented so many details. In my country we have only one monastery, but it is totally different from this one. Thank You sharing with us Your post. Have a nice day!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the visit, its quite an interesting site, so old. Have you photographed your monastery, its sounds interesting, if its the only one you have 🙂
Hello Lynne. Yes, I have photos of it and it situates in Heinävesi. Here:
Monastery of New Valamo
Here is its official page:
https://valamo.fi/en
It is worth for a visit, was it in summer or winter. I have spent a night there few years ago.
From the monastery, You could visit to the world’s biggest wooden Church in Kerimäki. Trip is about 102 km, from the monastery to Kerimäki.
World’s biggest wooden church
The distance from Kerimäki to Savonlinna is only 23 km to the town of Savonlinna. It is small town, but it is beautiful. In Savonlinna there is in summer Opera Festival inside the castle. You could make a lake cruise also in the neighboring lake in Savonlinna.
Medieval castle of Olavinlinna
Savonlinsna – old ships and market
https://operafestival.fi/en/Season-and-Tickets/Season-2019
To reach The Monastery, You could pass thru the town of Varkaus, where is one of the most awesome museums. It is big museum and inside unique instruments, which You can hear,
Mechanical Music Museum
Between Varkaus and the monastery there two canals:
Two lock Canals
Maybe these links give You ideas for the future and to notice, that my country offer “something” experience.
Have a wonderful day!
Thank you so much for the links, I have had a lovely time looking at them, so many wonderful things to see when we come 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend, Lynne
Nice to find something new on your meander. 🙂
I’ve not been to Switzerland, but that first picture seems to me what it ought to look like! 😀
Lovely stained glass, but some disturbing scenes!
It was nice 🙂 Switzerland is like a fairy book country, just perfect in every detail, there are some industrial cities, but there has to be…..we just don’t go there and the same can be said of Austria, which we also visited 🙂
Great to find these natural places still 🙂
And of course, the chocolate! 😀
Oh Swiss Chocolate, yummy 🙂
😀
Very beautiful pictures👍 I like stained glass and history of the church🙋
Thank you, gad you enjoyed the photos and the church history 🙂
🙋🙂👍