Schnappenkirche

Baroque building

The Schnappen Church stands at a height of 1,100 metres and is visible from afar. The church is dedicated to Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg, the patron saint of woodcutters, shepherds and dairymen. The small church on the Schnappenberg is located in the municipality of Marquartstein, but belongs to the parish of Staudach-Egerndach.

The Schnappen Church probably has its origins in the spring that flows out of a stone barrel, somewhat hidden in the forest below the church. As more and more pilgrims came to the spring dedicated to Saint Wolfgang and its wooden chapel, the current church was built between 1637 and 1640 on the orders of the provosts of Herrenchiemsee Monastery according to plans by the Traunstein town architect Wolfgang König. A holy mass was celebrated in the Schnappen Church every Saturday until 1714, and pilgrimages took place regularly until 1803. During the subsequent secularization, the chapel, which was scheduled for demolition, was only spared because it was difficult to reach. In 1829, Pius VIII granted a plenary indulgence to pilgrims who visited the Schnappen Church on two days a year and prayed there.

The Schnappen Church has been renovated and repaired many times over the centuries. The baroque building is made of white-painted cut tuff stone. On the gable of the roof, which is covered with wooden shingles, sits an onion dome in the shape of a ridge turret. Inside, the otherwise quite simply furnished mountain church impresses with its altarpiece. The original high altar by Matthäus Schütz from Munich in 1644 was replaced in 1870 by a new altar designed by Stefan Gelner from Unterwössner. The altarpiece, which was painted by Kaspar Amort in 1644, was placed in a rococo frame from the Schleching parish church. It shows the church patron Wolfgang of Regensburg, who is surrounded by two angels and guarding the image of the Schnappen Church in his lap. The frescoes were created by Wolfgang Jakob Schroff from Traunstein.

Place full of legends

There are two legends surrounding the Schnappen Church. Firstly, according to legend, the Chiemgau count Marquart von Hohenstein was attacked and murdered here in 1096. Secondly, there is the legend of the stag: During a storm, a stately stag is said to have sought refuge in the chapel. When the storm slammed the door shut, the stag was trapped. Eventually it began to eat the bell’s ringing ropes. A hunter who heard the ringing freed the animal. The stag returned to its place of refuge several times.

Popular destination

The Schnappenkirche is a popular destination for hikers all year round. Several hiking trails lead from Marquartstein and Staudach-Egerndach through the dense mountain forest up to the little church on the Schnappenberg. From the snack bench outside the church you can enjoy a fantastic view over the Chiemgau and the Bavarian Sea, the Chiemsee.