Bollenwees

St. Bernard of Aosta (15 June)

Open chapel on the steep slope behind the inn on the mountain path from Bollenwees to Furgglen.

The chapel consists of a very steep gable roof without walls. A granite slab on a stone pedestal serves as an altar. A boulder in front of the chapel serves as a people's altar. The chapel has a small bell.

History
 

On the Alp Fählen, a wayside shrine was erected in 1901 from the rock face on the footpath from the Bollenwees to the Saxerlücke in honour of Mary the Angel as a vow for protection against a cattle epidemic. In 1942, this was replaced by an altar under a monopitch roof. Because the roof became dilapidated over the years due to the heavy snow loads, a new chapel was planned on the initiative of the Fontana Gallus St. Gallen scout department in honour of St. Bernard of Aosta, the patron saint of mountaineers. The scout leader Markus Bollhalder planned a new chapel. The Appenzell I.Rh. Heritage Protection Commission determined the current location. In February 1973, the building rights contract with the Bollenwees Alpine Cooperative was concluded, and in March the founding meeting of the sponsoring association took place.

In the summer camp of 1973, the guides and scouts of St. Gallen worked on the new building with many volunteers under the active guidance and support of master builder Hugo Oettli. On 22 September (Mauritius Day) 1973, the chapel was consecrated by Bishop Hasler in front of densely packed visitors. The patronage was changed in honour of St. Bernard of Aosta. The chapel was fenced in with a new stick in 2020.