St. Bernhardus

St. Bernhardus is a chapel on Spitzkopf mountain in Schwäbisch Gmünd, located at approximately 774 meters (2,540 feet) elevation. The structure displays the architectural features typical of late 19th-century religious buildings with simple and functional forms.

The current chapel was built in 1880 by Count Otto von Rechberg und Rothenlöwen and replaced a baroque church that had been destroyed in 1809. The construction continued a longstanding tradition of maintaining a religious site at this mountain location that held importance for local people.

The chapel is named after Saint Bernard and remains a pilgrimage destination for visitors across the region. People come here to pray and participate in the annual procession that has been observed for centuries.

The chapel lies along the Glaubenswege hiking trail and is accessible by foot from the valley below. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and allow extra time for the climb, especially in wet or slippery conditions.

The chapel was funded by a count whose family connected their personal hopes to this place across generations. The construction itself grew from a wish that reportedly came true years after the chapel was completed.