Kapelle Maria Schnee

The small Chapel of Maria Schnee stands in the Halden district of Nenzing, Vorarlberg, near the border with Frastanz. Built in 1874 on the site of a 17th-century predecessor, it replaced a structure once considered for closure during the Josephinische Kirchenreform. The old chapel was rebuilt in 1842 with help from local residents across several nearby villages. In 2005–2006, architect Hans Purin led a renovation that preserved its simple character.

The chapel’s rectangular design faces southwest to northeast, with a slate-covered roof and a small bell turret topped by a pointed spire. Inside, about 100 people can gather beneath its modest wooden ceiling. The main entrance on the northeast side features a round-arched sandstone door with a semicircular window above. Beside it grows a centuries-old linden tree, protected as a natural monument.

Inside, late-Gothic wooden statues of the Virgin and Child, Saint Sulpitius, and the Evangelist John have been moved here from the old parish church in Frastanz. These figures date from around 1480 and remain the chapel’s most significant artworks. The quiet lane where it stands leads on toward Gampelün and Gurtis, offering a peaceful place for reflection.