Hiking Highlight
Recommended by 9 hikers
Location: Gmünd in Kärnten, Bezirk Spittal an der Drau, Carinthia, Austria
The church probably goes back to a Marterl called "Kreuz am Bichl" (Bichl, Bühel = small hill) from the 15th century, in 1588 became a chapel. Therefore, this chapel was now called "Kreuzbichlkapelle".
Probably, in order to protect the travelers during their devotion in front of the chapel, the room of the faithful was built later. In this case, the church was probably renovated and provided with a Latin inscription, which is in German translation "Through his blood, we have been justified," and whose red highlighted letters give the year 1784.
Further guesses about the reason of the expansion go to the fact that sentenced to death delinquents on the way to Gmünder Richtstätte, about one kilometer further Galgenbichl, to which also the Faschaunerin made her last walk, stopped at the chapel to perform their prayers. It is also believed that merchants found a place here for their prayers for the successful crossing of the mountains and the absence of raids by highwaymen and robber barons. Perhaps the gallery was also built for the numerous participants of the processions.
July 19, 2019
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