Einsiedeln () is a municipality and district in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland known for its monastery, the Benedictine Einsiedeln Abbey, established in the 10th century.

History

Early history

There was no permanent settlement in the area prior to the early medieval period, but numerous artefacts left by prehistoric hunters, dated to the Mesolithic to Bronze Age were recovered.

thumb|left|Einsiedeln Abbey (completed in 1746)

The original "hermitage" is associated with St. Meinrad, a Benedictine monk from the family of the Counts of Hohenzollern. According to legend, Meinrad lived on the slopes of Mt. Etzel from 835 until his death in 861.

During the next eighty years Saint Meinrad's hermitage was never without one or more hermits emulating his example. Following a miraculous vision by Eberhard, the new church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Over the following century, conflicts over the land led to many court battles and actual battles. In 1173 when the Habsburgs gained rights over the village of Schwyz and in 1283 when they raised the Abbey to an independent principality under the Habsburgs, led to open conflict. Schwyz supported the Abbey against the Waldleute and in 1766 crushed the revolt. However, the Abbey lost much of its independence and thereafter was treated more as a subject of Schwyz instead of a partner.

the gender distribution of the population was 50.4% male and 49.6% female. The age distribution, , in Einsiedeln is; 3,211 people or 25.4% of the population is between 0 and 19. 3,628 people or 28.7% are 20 to 39, and 3,964 people or 31.4% are 40 to 64. The senior population distribution is 1,009 people or 8.0% are 65 to 74. There are 609 people or 4.8% who are 70 to 79 and 201 people or 1.59% of the population who are over 80. There is one person in Einsiedeln who is over 100 years old.

there are 5,093 households, of which 1,649 households (or about 32.4%) contain only a single individual. 347 or about 6.8% are large households, with at least five members.

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! year

! population

|-

| 1799

| 4,958

|-

| 1850

| 6,821

|-

| 1880

| 8,383

|-

| 1900

| 8,496

|-

| 1930

| 8,053

|-

| 1950

| 8,423

|-

| 1960

| 8,792

|-

| 1970

| 10,020

|-

| 1980

| 9,529

|-

| 1985

| 9,783

|-

| 1990

| 10,452

|-

| 2000

| 12,421

|-

| 2005

| 13,365

|-

| 2007

| 13,768

|-

|}

Transport

is the terminal station of the Wädenswil–Einsiedeln railway and the Rapperswil-Einsiedeln railway, which are served by Zürich S-Bahn lines and . Both lines are operated by Südostbahn (SOB).

At the nearby junction station, there are connections to the InterRegio Voralpen Express to Lucerne and St. Gallen. At junction station, there are connections to services to Zürich.

Climate

Between 1961 and 1990 Einsiedeln had an average of 156.7 days of rain per year and on average received of precipitation. The wettest month was June during which time Einsiedeln received an average of of precipitation. During this month there was precipitation for an average of 15.3 days. The month with the most days of precipitation was May, with an average of 15.3, but with only of precipitation. The driest month of the year was February with an average of of precipitation over 15.3 days.

Sports

thumb|right|[[Schanzen Einsiedeln]]

Schanzen Einsiedeln is the national ski jumping venue of Switzerland.

Tourism

thumb|Main street of Einsiedeln, Abbey square in the foreground

The village of Einsiedeln is a popular tourist destination in central Switzerland. The Benedictine Einsiedeln Abbey, located within the village, is considered one of the most important Roman Catholic pilgrimage sites in Europe In addition to the Abbey, Einsiedeln is also a popular destination for sports year round. The village has 3 ski areas which include lifts as well as ski jumps.

  • Joseph Charles Benziger (1762–1841) founded the Catholic publishing house RCL Benziger
  • Meinrada Josefa Benziger (1835–1908), Swiss businesswoman, philanthropist
  • Artur Beul (1915–2010), a Swiss songwriter
  • Albrecht von Bonstetten (c.1443 – c.1504), a Swiss humanist, entered Einsiedeln Abbey at a young age, made deacon of Einsiedeln in 1469
  • Eric Honegger (born 1946), a Swiss politician and businessman, lives in Einsiedeln
  • Josef Benedikt Kuriger (1754–1819), sculptor, goldsmith
  • Meinrad Lienert (1865–1933), a Swiss writer, poet, journalist and editor
  • Gall Morel (1803 - Einsiedeln Abbey 1872), a poet, scholar, aesthete and educationist
  • Paracelsus (1493 in Egg – 1541), physician, alchemist and astrologer of the German Renaissance
  • Milica Pavlović (born 1991), Serbian pop-folk singer
  • Lee Scratch Perry (1936–2021), Jamaican record producer and musician

; Sport

  • Marcel Fässler (born 1976), a Swiss professional racing driver.
  • Andreas Küttel (born 1979), a Swiss former Ski Jumper "World Champion 2009"
  • Josef Wehrli (born 1954), a Swiss former professional racing cyclist

References

  • Einsiedeln - Place of Culture and Pilgrimage at visit-einsiedeln.ch
  • Company Formation Schwyz