Climb up the path to this special place the Unterwörndlkapelle. It is more than just a chapel. It’s a tribute to a song. That song is known worldwide as Silent Night. Let me tell you its story.
The Unterwörndlkapelle stands as a symbol. It marks the spot where Silent Night was first performed. This happened in the Nikolauskirche in Oberndorf bei Salzburg.
The original church suffered greatly. Floods damaged it severely in the 1890s. The Salzach River was the culprit. A particularly bad flood in 1899 devastated the Altach district. It destroyed much of the town.
Because of the constant flooding threat and high repair costs a decision was made. It was decided to rebuild Oberndorf. This included the parish church of St. Nicholas. The new location was about half a mile upstream.
The damaged St. Nicholas Church was not repaired. Instead, a new church was built in 1906 in the town center. By 1913, the old church was gone. Only rubble marked where the famous song debuted.
The 100th anniversary of Silent Night was in 1918. It was a difficult time after World War I. Yet, the people of Oberndorf wanted to honor the song’s message of peace.
Construction on the Unterwörndlkapelle began in 1924. Progress was slow because of tough economic times. Finally, on August 15 1937 the chapel was done. It became a symbol of the Silent Night song.
The Unterwörndlkapelle has an octagonal shape. It features a bell helmet and a lantern. Arched windows adorn the chapel. These windows were created in 1935. The Tyrolean Stained Glass company made them.
Inside the chapel, you will find a high altar. It displays a relief of the Nativity by Hermann Hutter from 1915. The altar base shows the Adoration of the Magi. Also shown are The Crucifixion and The Flight into Egypt. Max Domenig created these in 1936.
Every year people visit the Unterwörndlkapelle. They come from all over the world especially at Christmas. A solemn memorial mass takes place every December 24th. At 5:00 p.m. guests gather to hear Silent Night. It is sung in many languages. Since 2002, the celebration has been broadcast online.
The Unterwörndlkapelle represents peace and history. It marks the spot of a global Christmas tradition. The Silent Night Chapel stands as a reminder. It reminds us of the simple message of Silent Night. A message of peace on earth.