Ködnitzkirchl

The Ködnitzkirchl, also known as the Herz-Jesu-Kapelle, is a protected chapel in the Ködnitztal valley near Kals am Großglockner in Tirol. It stands high in the rear of the valley on the Jörgnalm, surrounded by alpine huts and old larch trees. Built in the mid-20th century, the small wooden church has a rectangular floor plan under a shingle-covered roof. Its north-side tower features rounded sound openings and a bulbous dome. Inside, the chapel keeps a simple altar with a printed image of the Sacred Heart above it.

The chapel’s interior holds a wooden aedicula framing a Lourdes grotto, along with printed Stations of the Cross and many holy images and votive pictures. The design reflects a quiet, rural devotion rather than elaborate art. The Bundesdenkmalamt lists the building in its inventory of artistic monuments in the Lienz district. Its modest craftsmanship and setting make it a modest yet notable example of mid-century Tyrolean religious architecture.

Visitors reach the chapel along mountain paths past working alpine farms and through open larch woods. The surrounding meadows carry the sound of cowbells in summer, while the high peaks keep watch overhead. Inside, the single room offers a place of rest and reflection, lit by small windows. The wooden fittings and painted images create an atmosphere of traditional piety. From the chapel door, wide views open across the valley toward the Grossglockner massif.