Marienwallfahrtsort Staufen is a religious pilgrimage site
A bird twitters as the rising sun against the lovely blue sky greets us in the early morning. My dog Tila and I hike from Rapperswil, a town located on the upper end of Lake Zurich, Switzerland. We are on our way to visit the famed monastery village, Einsiedeln.
It’s only a few steps from the train station to the 841-meter long boardwalk that takes one to the other side of the lake. One passes the Heilighuesli (“holy house”), a bridge chapel that was built in the 1600s. To the left are the Glarner Alps, and to the right, Ufenau Island, with its Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Peter and Paul. After a steep ascent through what is known as Hollow Alley, we come to the observation tavern, Luegeten. We are rewarded with a breathtaking view of Lake Zurich. One can sit and rest at the Luegeten, while dining on a mouthwatering meal.
Saint Meinrad, the Monk
Tila and I continue to climb the mountain for a short while. The fruit trees are in full bloom. One cannot get enough of the beauty that surrounds us, and let us not forget the beautiful beech trees. They are covered with this unique hue of light green, which can only be seen during the month of May. The sun winks through the canopy of leaves, giving a lovely radiance to the little stream that laps downwards beside us. It resembles molten diamonds pouring down to the valley. Orange-yellow buttercups and primroses, violets and lady’s smocks adorn the path, all the way to the Etzelpasshoehe (Etzel elevation).
This is the place where the monk, Saint Meinrad, lived for seven years in the 9th century, before he moved to what is known today as Einsiedeln. He had arrived from Lake Constance, where he had lived in the Benedictine monastery on Reichenau Island, having made the commitment to live as a hermit for the rest of his life. Legend says that he brought with him a statue of Mother Mary, which was believed to produce miracles. Abbess Hildegard from Zurich had presented him with the statue.
