Erasmuskapelle

Erasmuskapelle in Kempten (Allgäu) is a medieval cemetery chapel buried beneath St.-Mang-Platz, in the heart of the old town. It now serves as an underground showroom (Schauraum) where a multimedia show tells the story of Kempten. It ranks among the city's most visited sights.

What is the Erasmuskapelle?

The chapel dates from the 13th century, when it stood beside a cemetery and housed an ossuary. Over the centuries it changed hands and purpose, serving as a storeroom, a wine cellar and a tavern before falling into neglect. In 1857 the town decided to demolish it, but the underground walls survived and were rediscovered when a bunker was dug during the Second World War.

Archaeologists began work here in 1988. In 2003 they uncovered roughly 500 medieval burials, and in 2008 a well-preserved cellar level of the chapel. In 2009 the city council approved turning the site into a showroom, with the original underground fabric kept intact.

What will you see?

You descend 23 steps from the square. The visit opens with a multivision show that combines light, projection and sound to cover almost eight centuries of local history, with the building itself playing a starring role. For long stretches Kempten was two towns in one, a Catholic abbey town ruled by a prince-abbot and a Protestant imperial city, and that split shaped much of what you hear.

After the show you have time to explore. A monitor table displays finds from the excavations, and you can spot burn marks and fragments of wall paintings. Two openings in the east wall let you look into the ossuary behind it.

How do you get there and when should you go?

The entrance is on St.-Mang-Platz, 87435 Kempten, next to the Church of St. Mang and close to the town hall, which dates from 1474. The old town centre is easy to cover on foot from the main station.

The showroom is open daily except Wednesday and Thursday, 11:00 to 17:00, and entry is by guided tour only. Buy tickets on site at the Mang-Box in the south hall of St. Mang's church, or online through the city's Experience Shop. Admission to Kempten's municipal museums, this one included, is free on the first Sunday of each month. Phone 0831 2525-1725 or email [email protected] for details.

What else is nearby?

Pair the visit with the Archäologischer Park Cambodunum, an open-air museum on the Roman settlement of Cambodunum from the Augustan period. It counts among the most complete sites of its kind north of the Alps. Together with St. Mang's church and the town hall square, it fills a relaxed half day.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit the Erasmuskapelle on my own? No. Access is only through a guided tour.

Is it suitable for visitors with limited mobility? The way down is a flight of 23 steps, so it can be difficult. Ask the museum office before you go.

When is admission free? On the first Sunday of every month, when Kempten's municipal museums charge no entry.

What is the site known for? Its transformation from a chapel with an ossuary into an underground showroom, and the roughly 500 medieval burials found nearby.