Built centuries ago the Kreuzhofkapelle stands proudly. Its history is rich. It’s more than just a chapel. It’s a silent witness to pivotal moments in European history. The Kreuzhofkapelle is a Romanesque building. It’s located on the east side of Regensburg near the East Harbour. It sits on the south bank of the Danube River. This unassuming chapel has witnessed the rise and fall of empires. It has sheltered pilgrims. It has perhaps even served as a refuge.
The noble Barbing family likely built the two-story structure. They were a powerful family. They were influential during the 12th century. The Kreuzhof area is ancient. Settlements existed there 5000 years ago. A larger settlement and cemetery were present during the Carolingian and Ottonian eras.
The Kreuzhofkapelle played an unexpected role in major historical events. In 1147 King Conrad III gathered a huge crusader army there. He prepared them for the Second Crusade. Forty-two years later Emperor Frederick Barbarossa did the same. Legend says Barbarossa visited the Kreuzhof earlier. He summoned princes to Regensburg in 1156. This was to settle a dispute between Heinrich Jasomirgott and Heinrich the Lion. Regensburg was the Bavarian capital then. It wasn’t neutral ground. The meeting moved to the Kreuzhof near Barbing. Heinrich the Lion became the rightful Duke of Bavaria. The eastern Bavarian borderlands were separated. They became an independent duchy under Jasomirgott. The Privilegium Minus may have been sealed in the Kreuzhofkapelle itself. This makes the Kreuzhof and its chapel the birthplace of the sovereign Duchy of Austria.
The name Kreuzhofkapelle comes from a later time. It originated from the Dominican Convent of the Holy Cross in Regensburg. They took possession of the area in 1278.
The Kreuzhofkapelle has endured. It survived the Thirty Years’ War. It survived the ravages of time. It suffered severe damage in World War II. Georg Rauchenberger a district local history curator saved it. He rebuilt the chapel between 1950 and 1973 using his own funds. He’s buried inside the chapel after his death in 1973. Further restoration happened in 1987-88. The Kreuzhofkapelle stands today a testament to history resilience and the dedication of a man who loved his heritage.