Schmiedbichlkapelle, Wayside chapel in Achenkirch, Austria

Schmiedbichlkapelle is a small wayside shrine at the edge of the forest in Achenkirch, built in 1929. Its concrete altar block is faced with black granite slabs and framed by plinths and cornices; a heart-shaped lantern holds grave candles. The shrine commemorates brothers Johann and Alois Windhager, who died trying to rescue people from a fallen power line.

The Schmiedbichlkapelle was built in 1929 as a memorial to the brothers Johann and Alois Windhager, who died trying to rescue people from a fallen power line. The small stone shrine at the edge of the forest keeps their names and the date on its granite slabs.

The Schmiedbichlkapelle is a memorial chapel rather than a parish church, kept by the Windhager family of Achenkirch. Its altar carries a figure of the Virgin Mary pierced by seven swords, the Sorrowful Mother, and the granite slabs bear leaf-tendril carving. Local people still light grave candles in the heart-shaped lantern at the forest edge.

The chapel stands at the edge of the forest above Achenkirch, reached on foot via forest paths; sturdy footwear is advisable, and the granite slabs and heart-shaped lantern are best examined in dry weather.

The heart-shaped lantern for grave candles is set into the concrete altar block, a detail easily missed from the path. The black granite slabs carry the names of Johann and Alois Windhager, the brothers the chapel commemorates.