Astrid Chapel, Memorial chapel in Küssnacht, Switzerland
Astrid Chapel is a stone structure beside Lake Lucerne with a terrace offering views toward Küssnacht harbor and Mount Rigi beyond. The building features a simple, reverent form and sits on the lower side of the road, oriented toward the water.
Architect Paul Rome designed this memorial, which opened in 1936 following the death of Queen Astrid of Belgium in a motor accident. The structure was built as a tribute to a Belgian monarch whose tragic death shocked Switzerland and neighboring countries.
The chapel serves as a memorial site of national importance in Switzerland and draws visitors who come to spend quiet moments in reflection. People gather here to pay respects and acknowledge the history connected to this place.
The chapel is easily accessed through an underpass from the designated parking area, which has enough space for visitors. The site is compact, so you can explore the memorial quickly without needing to walk long distances.
In an extraordinary feat, the entire chapel was rotated 150 degrees and moved about 30 meters toward Küssnacht in 1960 without damage to the structure. This technical accomplishment was necessary to ensure the monument's safety as road conditions evolved.
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