World Heritage Photos

The Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair was founded around 775, probably on the orders of Charlemagne, to give thanks for his safe passage across the Alps. This impressive convent is one of the few existing architectural examples from the Carolingian period. It is widely known for its Carolingian frescoes from around 800 and its 12th-century Romanesque frescoes and stuccoes; they are the most important series of figurative murals in Switzerland. The series of frescoes adorns the entire Carolingian St. John's Church. There is also a statue of Charlemagne in St. John's Church. The original Carolingian St. John's Church and the Chapel of the Holy Cross survived largely intact. The fortified Planta Tower was erected around 960 to provide protection against the barbarians threatening the Ottonian Empire. The Planta Tower is considered the oldest fortified residential tower in the Alps. In 2015, around twelve nuns still lived in the Convent of St. John at Müstair. Müstair is the easternmost village in Switzerland. The village has been known since 1923 by its Rhaeto-Romance name Müstair rather than the German Münster. The Convent of St. John is situated in the Val Müstair; the landscape of this breathtaking valley is, together with the adjoining Swiss National Park (Parc Naziunal Svizzer), the first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the high Alpine region. The Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

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   The Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair is one of the few surviving buildings from the Carolingian period. This imposing convent was founded around 775, probably on the orders of Charlemagne, to give thanks for his safe passage across the Alps. The convent is renowned for its amazing Carolingian frescoes from around 800 and its 12th-century Romanesque frescoes. The Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

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   Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair: The small Chapel of the Holy Cross is situated in the cemetery of the convent. The chapel was also built in the Carolingian period. The Convent of St. John and the Chapel of the Holy Cross at Müstair are two of the few remaining buildings from the Carolingian period, roughly from 800 to 870. The Chapel of the Holy Cross has a cloverleaf ground plan and houses two small chapels; these tiny chapels are placed one on top of another.

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   Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair: The High Altar of the convent church. The frescoes behind the high altar show the beheading of John the Baptist. Originally the convent church was reserved exclusively for the monastic community, but during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century it also became a parish church. The church of the Convent of St. John at Müstair is dedicated to John the Baptist; he is considered an important biblical prophet.

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   Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair: The coat of arms of Charlemagne was painted in the vaulting. A statue of Charlemagne stands between the central apse and southern apse of the church. In the late 15th century and early 16th century, Gothic details were added to the church. Most notable is the impressive Gothic vaulting. Also larger windows were cut into the south wall; this completely destroyed several paintings.

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   Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair: A fresco of Christ Pantocrator in the central apse of the Church of St. John the Baptist. The apse is decorated with outstanding Carolingian frescoes of Christ surrounded by the twelve apostles and angels. Christ Pantocrator refers to a specific depiction of Christ. The Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.

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   Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair: The frescoes on the walls of the southern apse of the church. The frescoes on the church's interior walls date mostly from the early 9th century. Most of the frescoes depict scenes from the life of Christ; the west wall of the church shows the Last Judgment. In later centuries, the frescoes were covered in thick layers of whitewash. The frescoes were rediscovered in the 20th century. The original building of this Carolingian church survived largely intact.

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   Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair: A high-relief sculpture of the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. This fine relief was mounted on the north wall of the Church of St. John during the Gothic restoration. The baptism of Christ was the most important moment in the life of the Biblical prophet John the Baptist, even more important than his decapitation. The church of this convent is dedicated to John the Baptist. This prophet is also known as John the Forerunner or Saint John the Prodromos.

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   Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair: A sundial on the outer wall of the Planta Tower. This fortified tower was erected around 960. Its interior was arranged as living quarters. The Convent of St. John at Müstair has been inhabited by Benedictine nuns since the 12th century. The Planta Tower is considered the oldest fortified residential tower in the Alps. The tower is named after the Abbess Angelina von Planta who rebuilt the interior following a fire in 1499. Since 2003, this approximately 25-metre high tower has housed the convent museum.

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   The Planta Tower rises high above the Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair. This convent is situated in the Val Müstair, the most isolated valley in Switzerland. The Val Müstair, together with the adjoining Swiss National Park (Parc Naziunal Svizzer), is the first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the high Alpine region. This is only accessible via the Ofen Pass from the remainder of Switzerland.

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    The Ofen Pass, also known as the Fuorn Pass, is a high Alpine mountain pass in Switzerland. The Ofen Pass connects the Engadin Valley and the Val Müstair. The Benedictine Convent of St. John at Müstair is situated in the Val Müstair, the most isolated valley in Switzerland. The valley is only accessible via the 2,149-metre-high Ofen Pass from the remainder of Switzerland. A large part of this pass crosses the Swiss National Park (Parc Naziunal Svizzer), the first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the high Alpine region. The road over the Ofen Pass is renowned for its scenic views.