Picture this a small chapel nestled against a larger church. This is the Valentinskapelle in Vienna. It stood in the shadow of the Peterskirche a much grander structure. The Valentinskapelle though small held a significant place in Viennese history.
Built sometime between 1399 and 1419 it was added to the east side of the older Peterskirche. This older church possibly dated back to the early 9th century. The Valentinskapelle was dedicated to Saint Valentin. A valuable altar dedicated to the saint was moved into the chapel. This altar first mentioned in 1345 was a key feature.
Wolmuet’s 1547 city plan and Suttinger’s 1684 map show the chapel’s footprint. Hoefnagel’s 1609 bird’s-eye view reveals its exterior. These are valuable glimpses into a lost structure. Imagine these maps showing the chapel’s location its size its modest design.
Sadly both the Valentinskapelle and the Peterskirche were demolished in 1701 and 1702. A new church was built between 1702 and 1733. A stone altar survived. It now rests in the crypt of the new church. This altar features Saint Valentin Saint Sebastian Saint Rochus and a depiction of the Coronation of Mary. This beautiful altar likely stood in the Valentinskapelle. It dates back to around 1512. The altar was kept in the Diocesan Museum from 1933 to 1975. Today you can still see it in the crypt a tangible link to this lost chapel.
The Valentinskapelle is gone. Only historical records and this remarkable altar remain. They preserve its memory its significance. Its story reminds us of Vienna’s ever changing landscape. The enduring legacy of the Valentinskapelle lives on.