Home of Brother Klaus

Niklaus von Flüe, otherwise known as Brother Klaus, was born in or around 1417 in Flüeli (Sachseln municipality) and died on 21 March 1487 in nearby Ranft. Brother Klaus is regarded as the patron saint of Switzerland, a mystic and a hermit.

Niklaus von Flüe built his house in the Schibloch-Matte quarter adjacent to the path to Ranft, where he lived with his family until 1467, the year he became a hermit.
The house remained in the hands of the von Flüe family until the beginning of the 19th century, but was subjected to a number of clumsy conversions. Since the end of the 19th century it has belonged to the Catholics of Cantons Fribourg and Obwalden. The house was professionally restored in 1946 before Brother Klaus's canonisation and the interior largely rebuilt in accordance with pictures in the chronicle of Diebold Schilling.

During his trip to Switzerland, on 14 June 1984 Pope John Paul II celebrated mass before 11,000 people on the meadow next to the house. The living room served as a sacristy and now contains a commemorative plaque bearing the Pope's blessing and signature.

Opening hours

May to September
Monday to Friday, 9.30 a.m.–noon and 1.30–5 p.m.
Saturday, 9.30 a.m.–5 p.m. / Sunday, 10.30 a.m.–5 p.m.

April and October
Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m.–noon and 1.30–4 p.m.
Sunday, 10.30 a.m.–noon and 1.30–4 p.m.

November to March
By prior arrangement