The open-air pharmacy

Situated away from the monastery walls, it was established in the early 1990s at the initiative of the Franciscan Sisters of Erlenbad. Today, it is cared for by herbalist Beate Eckerlin, alongside caretaker Röbi Husistein and his team. Here, ancient wisdom and modern herbalism come together in a vibrant way.

The garden is divided into ten sections, each dedicated to a specific application. At its heart, a circular rose bed blooms, a tranquil meeting point among some 200 herbs that can alleviate various ailments. During guided tours, Beate Eckerlin shares stories and healing wisdom that stretches back to monastic medicine and beyond: from wild garlic as a spring tonic, to nettle – a powerful plant whose stems were once woven into fabric and whose seeds, roots, and leaves are still used in countless ways today – all the way to the primrose, whose saponins have anti-inflammatory properties and which Hildegard von Bingen recommended for strengthening the spirit.

Herbalism demands mindfulness. Wild garlic, for instance, can easily be mistaken for poisonous plants like lily of the valley or autumn crocus. With a practiced eye, Beate Eckerlin shows guests how to safely identify edible herbs. Visitors to this garden immediately sense that it cultivates more than just medicinal plant knowledge. As a place of tranquility and connection with nature, the garden functions like a small outdoor pharmacy, carrying on the spirit of monastic tradition to this day.