Heilig-Geist-Kapelle

The Heilig-Geist-Kapelle stands beside the upper fountain master’s house at the Rotes Tor in Augsburg’s Lechviertel. Built as part of the Heilig-Geist-Spital complex, it was planned by city master-builder Elias Holl in the 17th century. The chapel occupies part of the hospital’s west wing and is also called the Spitalkapelle. After 1648 the building changed from Catholic to Protestant use. Around 1700 an organ gallery with twisted columns and painted panels was added. The carved pulpit, showing the four Evangelists and the Holy Spirit dove, dates from the early 18th century. In 1808 the nave was halved to create hospital wards, leaving only two southern bays for worship. Since 1948 the Augsburger Puppenkiste puppet theatre has occupied this reduced space. Today the chapel serves as the school church for the nearby evangelical school. Regular Protestant services are held there, and occasional baptisms, weddings and funerals take place. The alt-Catholic congregation once worshipped here as guests of St Ulrich’s parish until moving to their own church in 2012. The chapel’s modest interior, with its historic furnishings, offers a quiet place for reflection beside the busy Spitalgasse.