World Heritage in the Val Monastero: St. John’s Abbey, known in Romansh as Son Jon, and its museum
Image gallery: Saint John Abbey Museum in Müstair
Just two kilometres from Tubre, South Tyrol's westernmost municipality, you cross the Swiss border to reach the village of Müstair. Here lies the renowned Benedictine Convent of St. John. Charlemagne founded the abbey in 775 AD, legend has it, in gratitude for being saved from a blizzard. In the mid-12th century, St. John's was converted into a convent. The Convent Church, dedicated to John the Baptist, was elevated to the status of Müstair's parish church in 1528.
In 1894, Swiss scholars Robert Durrer and Joseph Zemp discovered Carolingian frescoes dating back to the first half of the 9th century beneath layers of paint. The entire Convent Church was once adorned with these frescoes. The surviving artwork, depicting figures such as King David and Jesus, served the monks as a visual narrative of salvation history. Some of the frescoes were transferred to the National Museum Zurich in 1908/09. The remainder were uncovered between 1947 and 1951 with the nuns' support. The wonderful Chapel of the Holy Cross, also Carolingian, was restored in 2018 and can now be visited on designated days.
The Pro St. John Monastery Foundation has been dedicated to preserving the frescoes since 1969. Nuns still reside at St. John's Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The abbey guesthouse offers visitors tranquillity and a place for reflection. Romanesque paintings from around 1200, removed from the walls, are displayed in the Convent Museum. The museum itself is housed in a residential and fortified tower over 1,000 years old. In December 2024, the former exhibition "Bun Viadi" was replaced by the new permanent exhibition "Paths to and from Müstair".
How to get to Son Jon: The museum is located directly on the main road, with parking opposite. The bus line (Zernez-Malles route) also stops here. Those cycling to the Engadine via the Forno Pass (Ofenpass) will also pass the museum.
Contact info
- State road 12 - 7537 - Müstair
- +41 81 8586 189
- visit-museum@muestair.ch
Opening times
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.
Admission
guided tour of the Convent Church from the 8th century (approx. 45 minutes):
CHF 10.00 adults
CHF 8.00 students and apprentices (from 16 years on)
CHF 5.00 children and students (6-16 years)
----------------------------------
guided tour of the Convent Museum (approx. 60 minutes):
CHF 12.00 adults
CHF 8.00 students and apprentices (from 16 years on)
CHF 6.00 children and students (6-16 years)
CHF 30.00 family ticket (2 adults with max. 3 children)
CHF 4.00 each additional child of the family
----------------------------------
combined tour Convent Church & Convent Museum (approx. 90 minutes):
CHF 12.00 adults
CHF 8.00 students and apprentices (from 16 years on)
CHF 6.00 children and students (6-16 years)
CHF 30.00 family ticket (2 adults with max. 3 children)
CHF 4.00 each additional child of the family
----------------------------------
guided tour of the Carolingian Chapel of the Holy Cross (approx. 60 minutes):
CHF 12.00 adults
CHF 8.00 students and apprentices (from 16 years on)
CHF 6.00 children and students (6-16 years)
CHF 30.00 family ticket (2 adults with max. 3 children)
CHF 4.00 each additional child of the family
----------------------------------
free for children under 6 years
admission fees for groups on request
1 CHF = approx. 1.06 Euro
(payments can also be made in Euros)
More information
The Saint John Abbey Museum in Müstair stays open every day all year round, on Sundays and on public holidays only in the afternoon. The only day of complete closure is December 25.
Special exhibition 2025 "PIA WILLI. Art and Convent", a retrospective of drawings from three creative periods, dedicated to the artist, textile designer, nun, and former prioress Sister Pia Willi. Inauguration on June 26, 2025, at 6.30 pm.
In autumn 2025, the Chapel of the Holy Cross will be closed for essential works (1st of September to the end of November 2025).
.jpg)
