Heilig Hüsli

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Holzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden, Seedamm to the left, Heilig Hüsli and Rapperswil respectively Rapperswil Castle in the background (November 2009)

Heilig Hüsli (Holy house) is a chapel in the city of Rapperswil, canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Geography

The chapel is located next to the so-called Seedamm, as of the today, situated on a small island on upper Lake Zürich (Obersee) on the Holzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden, a historical wooden bridge reconstructed in 2001.

History

The chapel on the former medieval wooden bridge between Rapperswil and Hurden was first mentioned in 1485 in the form of a wooden prayer house respectively pilgrim's chapel. The Jakobsweg (Way of St. Jamens) leads through the region of Lake Zürich: From Wattwil over the Ricken pass to Schmerikon on to Lachen and along the left bank of the lake to Pfäffikon. Another route leads from Schmerikon along the lake to Rapperswil and then over the wooden bridge respectively from Constance over the Hörnli mountain through Zürcher Oberland via Rapperswil and the wooden bridge to St. Meinrad pass (Etzel mountain) and heads to Einsiedeln Abbey.

As recorded by an inscription, the present stone building dates back to 1551. After the Seedamm was built in 1878, the Heilig Hüsli chapel was the only remaining structure of the medieval wooden bridge. It stood isolated in the lake and was not accessible to visitors until the reconstruction of the former wooden bridge was erected in 2001. The chapel was partially renewed in 1908, 1930 and 1957. As of today it is owned by the Ortsgemeinde (community) Rapperswil.

The chapel is under protection since 1907 and is listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance as part of the Seedamm area including Heilig Hüsli and the remains of the prehistoric wooden bridges respectively stilt house settlements.[1]

Gallery

  • The bridge chapel, Seedamm in the background (February 2010)

  • The wooden bridge, as seen from nearby Seedamm, Obersee and Wägital in the background

  • Fresco inside the chapel

  • As seen from Schloss Rapperswil

References

  1. ↑ Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance

External links

Media related to Heilig Hüsli at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 47°13′20.90″N 8°48′53.7″E / 47.2224722°N 8.814917°E / 47.2224722; 8.814917

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