Schlachtkapelle am Stoss

St. Boniface (14 May)

Together with an ash tree and a mighty conifer, the chapel forms a striking group of landscapes and stands at the battlefield on the state road between Altstätten and Gais.

The rectangular chapel has a hexagonal turret in the middle of the ridge. The former entrance door and the window at the entrance were bricked up. The overall form and masonry are late Gothic, the solid roof is Baroque. The altarpiece is made of stone mosaic and is the last work of the Innerrhoden artist Johannes Hugentobler. A lattice wooden door was created as a finish. The little bell from 1641 weighs a hundredweight.

History

The Battle Chapel on the Stoss is one of the oldest chapels in our area and its religious-patriotic significance is greater than its artistic appearance. It was built on the battlefield soon after the Battle of the Stoss (17 June 1405), primarily to celebrate the year for the fallen. It was first mentioned in a document in 1488. Originally, the provision of the battle chapel was the task of the pastor of Gais; but the denominational disputes meant that the chapel had stood "desolate" for many years.

In 1601, the chapel was renovated for the first time. This was followed by frequent repairs, such as in the years 1570, 1627-1629, 1697, 1701, 1710, 1744/45 and 1792/93. During the work in 1889, it received a new altar with two wing paintings, which is now in the Appenzell Museum of Local History. During the renovation of 1955, the chapel underwent a total redesign by opening the room from the east. Last renovation in 2005.