Solothurn

Kloster Visitation

Building data

Reuse

Status of information

Entry created | 2017/08
Entry last updated | 2017/08

Further information

The Order of ‘Visitation of St Mary’, founded in 1610 by Francis de Sales, established itself in Solothurn in 1645. As the first convent had to be demolished to make way for the construction of the city walls, the order erected the building that still stands today between 1676 and 1693. It is a vast architectural complex centred around two inner courtyards, featuring a cruciform church, adjoining wings and outbuildings backing onto the convent wall. The convent, which is a listed historic monument and has been fully renovated, together with its associated properties, was transferred in 2007 to the Episcopal Association Basilea, which manages the diocese’s property portfolio. This move was undertaken to preserve this Baroque gem for the city and the canton and to relieve future users of the burden of maintaining the properties. On 27 May 2017, the last Salesian nun residing at the convent, Sister Marie-Dominique Bucher, handed over the keys to the Indian-based congregation of the ‘Sisters of Sacred Sciences’ (SSS), originally from India. The Superior General of the SSS, Sister Siji, has lived at the Convent of the Visitation since 2003 and studied theology in Fribourg, Switzerland. The new community was founded in 1997 by the Salesian Antony Kolencherry. He has lived in Solothurn since 2003, carries out his pastoral ministry in Lommiswil and is the convent’s spiritual director. This young order and the supporting association that supports it, founded in 2010, are committed to preserving the convent as a spiritual place of encounter.

Web links

Switzerland’s Architectural Heritage online
Helvetia Sacra
Monastery Visitation

Swiss Religious Heritage Day