Wonnenstein Friary

In 1381 Kuno von Stoffeln, the Abbot of Saint Gallen, granted the land where the friary now stands to several nuns who lived in the area. By the 15th century they were living under the Rule of Saint Francis. During the Protestant Reformation the residents left the monastery. In 1596 Anna Wäspi von Jonschwil was sent from Pfanneregg monastery by Wattwil to reestablish Wonnenstein under the Pfanneregger Reform as a Capuchin friary. In 1597 the Canton of Appenzell split into the catholic Appenzell Innerrhoden and the protestant Appenzell Ausserrhoden half-cantons. Because Wonnestein was located in the town of Teufen which joined the protestant Ausserrhoden, ownership of the friary became a source of conflict. In 1870 the federal government declared that the land within the walls of Wonnenstein and Grimmenstein would be part of Appenzell Innerrhoden and everything outside the walls would be Appenzell Ausserrhoden.[1]

Beginning in 1634 the sisters had a permanent resident confessor who initially came from Reichenau Abbey and then from Fischingen Abbey. Starting in 1890 the confessor came from Engelberg Abbey.[2] The friary had 22 residents in 1616 and in 1938 it housed 47. In 2000 that number had dropped to 11.[1] Following the death in January 2020 of Gabriela Hug there were only two residents left at Wonnenstein.[3]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kloster Wonnenstein.

• Schlatt-Haslen website
• Canton Appenzell Innerrhoden culture