“Do you see the simple cross atop the building?” I ask. The Friedhofskapelle St. Johannes in Schaan stands before us a testament to faith and history. This unassuming chapel holds a story that spans generations.
Built in 1934 it’s a relatively young structure. Yet it occupies a place of significance within Schaan’s history. The young German architect Erwin Hinderer designed it. He had already left his mark on Schaan and Vaduz in the early 1930s. The rectangular building is adorned with a simple cross. Its entrance is a grand feature. High arched openings grace the west north and east sides. A flight of steps leads to a main entrance supported by two tuff stone pillars. This leads into a spacious hall. Then into the main chapel. The chapel also houses a stunning feature a window crafted by August Wanner. This St Gallen artist and glass painter depicted Jesus rising from the tomb. It fills the back wall of the main space.
The chapel’s simple beauty was enhanced in 1952. Hofkaplan Ludwig Schnuriger added colourful murals. This artistically ambitious priest transformed the space above the main entrance. His artwork depicts Christ as the Judge of the World flanked by intercessors and angels.
The walls both inside and out display epitaphs. These date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. They commemorate former priests and chaplains who served in Schaan. Many of the tombstones likely originated from the old St Laurentius church.
A special memorial occupies a place of honour on the west wall. This is a commemorative plaque dedicated to the Liechtensteiners who fell in the First World War. Among the names is that of Prince Heinrich Alois von und zu Liechtenstein who died in 1915. The Kameradschaftsbund in Liechtenstein commissioned it in 1934. Initially it was located on the old church tower. Later it found its home on this chapel’s wall.
So stand here a while. Let the quiet dignity of the Friedhofskapelle St. Johannes sink in. It is more than just a place of worship. It’s a living history book. It speaks of faith loss and remembrance. It’s a part of Liechtenstein’s enduring narrative.