The buildings

The first Brothers’ House and the Chapel are the oldest buildings of the commandery. They were constructed at the end of the 12^th century, probably incorporating an existing building belonging to the Barons of Toggenburg. In the 14^th century, the Romanesque nave of the chapel was expanded by a Gothic chancel (destroyed 1819). The remaining Romanesque mural paintings in the chapel, which have been beautifully restored, were dated back to the first half of the 13th century. They are a fine and rare example of preserved mural paintings of this period in Switzerland. The paintings illustrate the foundation of the commandery by the barons of Toggenburg and Rapperswil and display selected scenes out of the life of Saint John the Baptist. The chapel was desecrated during the Reformation 1525 and subsequently secularised.

The Main House and the adjacent wing containing the Hall of Knights were added to the commandery between the 13^th and 15^th century. It is here that the commander and his administrator took quarter, later the governor from Zurich. The rooms used for receptions and official purposes were richly decorated in Renaissance style when the last major works were done in 1570. At the same time, the coat of arms of the Knights of Malta with the Prince’s crown was painted onto the façade in the courtyard.

The Servants’ House was originally constructed around 1480 and rebuilt in 1570 for cheese production. It was only used to house the local farmer’s servants in the 19^th and 20^th century. On the ground floor there is a beautiful sitting room.