Ever wondered about the story behind that charming chapel nestled in Mäls? That’s the Mariahilfkapelle. This Roman Catholic gem in Balzers, Liechtenstein, holds more secrets than you might imagine. Once a regional pilgrimage site, today the Mariahilfkapelle is a beloved wedding venue.
The Mariahilfkapelle sits on the southern edge of Balzers. It is surrounded by a park with a playground. A kindergarten is nearby. The chapel was once outside the village. Over time, houses grew around it.
Two legends tell of the Mariahilfkapelle’s origin. One tale speaks of a dragon. It lived near the Ellhorn mountain. The dragon terrified the people of Mäls. They couldn’t catch it. So, they prayed to Mary. They promised to build a chapel if the dragon vanished. It did. The Mariahilfkapelle was built. A dragon head made of metal sits on the chapel tower. It proves the dragon was real.
Another story links the Mariahilfkapelle to a battle. It was between Bishop Friedrich von Montfort and Count Hugo von Werdenberg in 1289. The battle happened near Balzers. Some say the chapel honors this event. But there’s no proof.
Few old writings describe the Mariahilfkapelle’s early days. Most information comes from studying the building itself. Some think a small chapel stood here in the 13th century. But foundations found in the apse suggest it’s from the 1500s. The oldest records from 1595 don’t mention the Mariahilfkapelle. In 1690, a priest mentioned a “new Chapel of Maria-Hilf”. This suggests it was rebuilt or changed before then.
The Mariahilfkapelle’s tower likely dates to the early 1700s. The old choir became the apse. The nave was raised. A new roof was added. Donations helped pay for these changes. The Brotherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary played a big role. It was founded in 1736.
When fire destroyed the St. Nikolaus Parish Church in 1795, the Mariahilfkapelle became the main church until 1807. By the early 1800s, the Mariahilfkapelle was in bad shape. It was robbed twice.
An altar was consecrated in 1816. This may have been part of some renovations. More work likely happened in the 1840s. Around 1842 to 1846, the Mariahilfkapelle got a new roof. In 1846, the chapel was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and her mother, St. Anne. In the 1890s, a vestibule and sacristy were added.
Extensive renovations took place in 1944 and 1945. The Mariahilfkapelle was replastered. The roofs were redone. A new gallery replaced the old one. In 1966, the area around the chapel was improved. Trees and shrubs were planted.
In 2012, a fire damaged the inside of the Mariahilfkapelle. A Christmas nativity scene caught fire. Smoke caused a lot of damage. The inside had to be restored for weeks. The wooden benches were cleaned. The walls were repainted. The decorated ceilings were cleaned carefully. The altars were taken apart and cleaned. The organ was taken apart, cleaned, and tuned.
The tower was renovated in 2016. The 70-year-old wooden roof was replaced. The tower’s facade was cleaned.
The Mariahilfkapelle has a rectangular nave and an apsidal choir. The tower is to the northeast. The sacristy is to the southwest. It’s made of rubble stones and brick.
Inside, the main altar and side altars date back to 1720 to 1730. The main altar features a copy of Lucas Cranach’s Mariahilf image. Statues of John the Evangelist and John the Baptist stand beside it. The oval frontispiece shows God the Father with a dove. Angels kneel on either side.
The left side altar shows the Holy Family. God the Father and the Holy Spirit are above them. The frontispiece shows the stigmatization of St. Francis. Statues of a priest and John of Nepomuk flank it.
The right side altar shows Anthony of Padua. The Virgin Mary appears to him. The frontispiece shows John of Nepomuk. Statues of a saint and a bishop frame him.
The ceiling paintings show scenes from Mary’s life. The Visitation is in the choir. The Annunciation and the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple are in the nave. These paintings likely date from the 1700s or 1800s.
The Mariahilfkapelle acquired an organ in 1868. It came from the parish of Mols. It was installed around 1869 or 1870. The organ was restored in 1945 and 1991. It has six registers. Johann Sylvester Walpen likely built it in 1824. It is probably his last surviving instrument.
The Mariahilfkapelle has two bells. The larger bell is from around 1300. It was moved from Gutenberg Castle in the late 1700s. It is dedicated to the four Evangelists. The second bell is from 1508. It bears the inscription “Ave Maria, gratia plena”. An electric bell system was installed in 2000.
So, as you stand before the Mariahilfkapelle remember its layers of history. It is a blend of legend, art and faith. This small chapel has witnessed centuries of change. It continues to be a special place for the people of Balzers.