The Verena Gorge Hermitage is a
hermitage located in the Verena Gorge, to the north of the city of
Solothurn,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
.
History
The name of the hermitage alludes to Saint
Verena of Zurzach
Verena of Zurzach, mostly just called ''Saint Verena'' (c. 260 – c. 320) is an early Christian consecrated virgin and hermit. She is especially venerated in Switzerland, where her cult is attested in Bad Zurzach, the reported place of he ...
. She is said to have passed near the area, and lived in a cave near Solothurn.
The hermitage has been in existence since the 17th century. The site features
stations of the cross
The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The station ...
dating from 1613 that were restored around 1990 by the Society of St. Verena Hermitage. The society was founded in 1810 and disbanded in 1813. A similar
gesellschaft corporation was established in the late 20th century dedicated to restoration and maintenance work on the buildings and monuments of the Hermitage and its surroundings. It organizes cultural events such as guided tours, lectures and exhibitions in the Verena gorge, also offering meditations in the hermitage.
The site is situated along a 2 km hiking trail, with a 40 m gradient.
Gallery
File:20170811 Weissenstein-100.jpg, St. Martin's Chapel
File:Magdalenengrotte.jpg, Grotto of Mary Magdalene
File:20170811 Weissenstein-92.jpg, Hermitage Saint Verena
File:Zentralbibliothek Solothurn - Ermitage de Ste Vérène près Soleure - a0489.tif, Aquatint by Bruno Moll between 1860 and 1880
Notes and references
External links
Official site of the Gesellschaft der Einsiedelei St. Verena (in German)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Verena Gorge Hermitage
Monuments and memorials in Switzerland
Christian hermitages in Switzerland
Solothurn