Einsiedeln, Switzerland

We spent two night in the little town of Einsiedeln, a short bus ride up the Alps from Lucerne.  The Hotel Sonne isn't fancy, but they served great food, had a playground across the street, and a spectacular monastery, the Einsiedeln Abbey, just steps from the front door.  The current monastery dates from 1721, but Benedictines have been monk-eying around there since 934.

The Baroque church is spectacular, and remarkably well kept.  I guess they figure if it's not Baroque, don't fix it.

Some of us wouldn't mind if they fixed the bells, which chime early and often.

 

The Abbey is also famous for raising horses, which greeted us as we hiked around the barns and fields.