The origins of the Benedictine Monastery of Mariastein lie in Beinwil in the Canton of Solothurn. It was here, at the northern foot of the Passwang, that Abbot Esso and monks from the reformed monastery of Hirsau in the Black Forest founded a settlement around the year 1100. In 1648, Abbot Fintan Kieffer moved the Monastery from Beinwil to Mariastein. In addition to looking after pilgrims, a Monastery school was run at the new location. At the same time, the monks looked after the Monastery parishes.
The origins of the Benedictine Monastery of Mariastein lie in Beinwil in the Canton of Solothurn. It was here, at the northern foot of the Passwang, that Abbot Esso and monks from the reformed monastery of Hirsau in the Black Forest founded a settlement around the year 1100. In 1648, Abbot Fintan Kieffer moved the Monastery from Beinwil to Mariastein. In addition to looking after pilgrims, a Monastery school was run at the new location. At the same time, the monks looked after the Monastery parishes.