Heiligkreuzkapelle, Religious chapel in Müstair, Switzerland.
The Heiligkreuzkapelle is a two-story chapel attached to the nearby monastery complex in Müstair. The upper level displays marble, stucco, and painted decorations, while the lower level functions as a burial chamber.
The wooden ceiling beams date to between 785 and 788, making them among Europe's oldest dated wooden structures. The chapel formed part of the monastery complex that grew from early religious settlements in the valley.
The chapel remains a place of worship today, connected to centuries of spiritual life in this mountain valley. Its two levels reflect how medieval communities used space differently for prayer and burial.
The chapel is accessible through guided tours that began in autumn 2018, offering visitors a detailed walk through both levels. The adjacent monastery museum provides additional background information about the building and its history.
Restoration work revealed figurative paintings from the Carolingian period hidden in the eastern gable wall. These decorations had been completely concealed under later layers and offer rare insight into early medieval artistic techniques.
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