Hidden within Augsburg’s walls lies St. Severin a small Gothic chapel. Its history is far richer than its unassuming exterior suggests. Legend says Duke Ludwig the Severe founded it in 1256. It was initially a modest Schneekapelle a small chapel built of snow. The Cistercian monastery of Fürstenfeld later sold it. The Augsburg patrician families Rappolt and Rehlinger acquired it. They used it as a private chapel.
St. Severin wasn’t always a place of quiet prayer. Imagine its transformation in 1578. Mayor Markus Welser spearheaded a renovation. The chapel received a late Gothic makeover. A stunning net vault was added to its ceiling. This intricate architectural detail is a testament to the era’s craftsmanship. The chapel’s evolution continued. In 1622 ownership transferred to the Augsburg Cathedral Chapter. Following the secularization of the Carmelite monastery in 1814 St. Severin faced a significant change. The Bavarian Kingdom acquired the building complex. Its sacred purpose ended. It was repurposed. St. Severin became a prison chapel. A grim but significant part of its history.
The Baroque Carmelite monastery church was sadly demolished in 1821. But St. Severin endured. Restoration efforts lasted until 1970. Today St. Severin stands as a testament to resilience. It’s a small single-nave hall church. It features a recessed choir and a western facade tower. The late Gothic net vault inside dates back to the second half of the 16th century. It’s a quiet sanctuary a surviving piece of Augsburg’s past. Look closely at the details. Notice the craftsmanship. Feel the weight of history within its walls. St. Severin is more than just a chapel. It’s a living link to Augsburg’s rich and often surprising past.