Kunigunden Chapel

The Kunigundenkapelle, dedicated to Kunigunde of Luxembourg, who was particularly revered in the region, was built around 1230 during the heyday of the Staufer dynasty. The probable builders were Heinrich von Hohenlohe and his son Konrad von Hohenlohe, who resided at the nearby Brauneck Castle. From 1608 to 1609, extensive repairs and alterations were carried out under Prince-Bishop Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn. This renovation was intended to strengthen the Counter-Reformation. A stone tablet from 1614 refers to this renovation. In the mid-18th century, during the Baroque period, the walls and ceiling were decorated with stucco. In 1762, the current main altar, depicting the Holy Family, was donated by Thomas Klee from Buch. A final renovation took place around 1900. However, regular services were only held on Kunigunde's Day (March 3) and on the third Rogation Day. After the cemetery was no longer used after 1945, the Kunigundenkapelle lost its significance. From 1961 to 1962, excavations were carried out in the chapel, and the current state was established during the subsequent thorough restoration.

The chapel has largely retained its late Romanesque character. The wall paintings uncovered in 1960 indicate a strong and richly varied color scheme, which reached its peak around 1220. The equestrian image on the north wall of the chapel already shows the emerging Gothic style. It is probably a depiction of Saint George. The window niche next to it was and is again painted in strong colors. The altar table stood in the almost square presbytery. On the southern choir wall, next to a small round-arched window typical of the period, a depiction of the Christ Child with three figures with outstretched hands is still clearly visible. The presbytery door led out to a covered outdoor pulpit, from which the chapel's relics were displayed. In the semi-underground barrel-vaulted lower chapel, which did not serve as a crypt, there was another altar. The centerpiece of the chapel today is the three-part late Baroque altar. The richly decorated antependium, with a golden plowshare and three cloverleaves, symbolizes the legend according to which Saint Kunigunde is said to have walked over glowing plowshares to prove her fidelity and innocence.