Bergkapelle

The Bergkapelle is a Gothic Revival church building in Illingen featuring a striking sandstone facade and detailed interior fixtures. The structure displays a prominent sandstone cross at its entrance and houses an impressive Pietà sculpture in the altar area.

The present building was constructed in 1901 following a Gothic Revival design by Wilhelm Hector, replacing three earlier pilgrimage chapels. The site has been known as a pilgrimage destination since the 16th century.

The chapel takes its name from its hilltop location, where visitors can sense the sacred purpose of this place. People have left votive plaques here for generations as expressions of gratitude.

The site is easily accessible and served by a café that opened in 2019 in the former caretaker's quarters. Visitors should be prepared for some uneven paths around the chapel, particularly if exploring the seven Stations of the Cross markers.

Seven sandstone pillars line Gymnasialstraße depicting the Seven Sorrows of Mary, forming an independent Stations of the Cross pathway. These stations have been used by pilgrims over decades and represent a complete devotional system that existed before the modern chapel was built.