The Abbey of Saint Maurice in Valais was built 1500 years ago as a place to honor martyrs. The pilgrimage destination was once the spiritual center of the Burgundy Empire and today houses one of the richest ecclesiastical treasures in Europe.

Abbey of St. Maurice d'Agaune – 15 centuries of uninterrupted history

Aguanum, a place of worship since ancient Celtic times, was renamed Saint-Maurice after the martyrdom of the Theban Legion at the turn of the 4th century. Founded in the year 515, the Abbey of St. Maurice in Valais is the oldest Christian monastery in the Western world to have existed without interruption in its original location. The canons have continued their Laus Perennis - perpetual prayer – day after day, for the last 1,500 years.

As a cultural heritage site of global significance, the Abbey has opened a new and updated tour to the public. Today, visitors can discover the basilica, the archaeological site of the former churches and the jewels of the new treasury using an original audio guide with music. Thanks to video reconstructions and computer-generated images, they can walk through 1,500 years of ancient history.
Open throughout the year, every day except Mondays. Bookshop, souvenirs and produce from the Abbey cellars. Visitors can attend the perpetual prayer. Details of opening hours: www.abbaye-stmaurice.ch