Kreuzkapelle, Bad Camberg
The Kreuzkapelle [ˈkʁɔʏ̯ts.kaˌpɛlə] is a chapel of the Holy Cross, a Catholic pilgrimage church in Bad Camberg, Hesse, Germany, dedicated to the Holy Cross. It is a landmark of the town, located on higher ground to the north-east. A Kreuzweg with stations of the Cross leads from Bad Camberg to the chapel.[1]
Kreuzkapelle | |
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![]() Exterior | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Catholic |
Province | Diocese of Limburg |
Rite | Latin |
Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Pilgrimage church |
Year consecrated | 1682 |
Location | |
Location | Bad Camberg, Hesse, Germany |
![]() ![]() Shown within Hesse ![]() ![]() Kreuzkapelle, Bad Camberg (Germany) | |
Geographic coordinates | |
Architecture | |
Style | Baroque |
Completed | 1683 |
History
The chapel was built from 1681 to 1683 on a ridge running north-east out of Bad Camberg, overlooking the Goldgrund area and the town. It was initiated by the Hohenfeld family, which also built a Kreuzweg with stations of the Cross around 1700, leading from Camberg up to the chapel.[1]
![](../I/Kreuzkapelle%252C_Bad_Camberg%252C_interior.jpg.webp)
The chapel was first built as an octagon located where the choir is now. It was expanded in 1725 to a symmetrical central building (Zentralbau) shaped like a Greek cross. While three of its arms are closed on floor level, the choir is elevated and can be reached by symmetrical stairs. It is dominated by a crucifix.[2] A crypt below the choir is hewn in the rock, holding the shrine of a cross relic.[1]
The upper church features wooden vaults, and several altars from the 18th century. The meadow around the chapel and the sexton's house is surrounded by a wall with eight sides. Seven stations of the cross along the Kreuzweg, by the Hadamar school of sculpture, are replicas of weathered originals which are held in the crypt.[1] Stained glass windows, donated by citizens of Camberg, were added around 1900.[2]
The chapel was a centre of the Catholic youth movement until 1933. Exterior and interior were restored by volunteers from 1975. The chapel is a landmark of Bad Camberg.[3] When the anniversary of the building was celebrated in 1982, a priest wrote that the chapel is a sermon about the cross, and believers come bringing the "crosses" in their lives.[2]
The building is listed in the Hague Convention for protection in the event of armed conflict.[4]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kreuzkapelle (Bad Camberg). |
- "Kreuzkapelle". Denkmalpflege Hessen (in German). Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "Christen sind Menschen der neuen Wege / C4 Kreuzkapelle" (PDF). Pastoraler Raum Bad Camberg (in German). p. 4. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- "Kreuzkapelle, Bad Camerg". taunus.info (in German). Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- "Eine Plakette schützt vor Bombenhagel / Einige Kirchen des Kreises Limburg /Weilburg sind in der Haager Konvention aufgenommen" (PDF). Der Sonntag (in German) (5): 14. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2020.