Waldau chapel (1491-1501)

Waldau Chapel in Bern is a late Gothic chapel built between 1491 and 1501, standing on Bolligenstrasse in the north-eastern part of the city. It began as the chapel of a leprosy hospital and today sits beside the main building of the Waldau University Psychiatric Clinic, where it also houses the Swiss Museum of Psychiatry.

Where does the chapel come from?

In 1491 the city of Bern moved its Siechenhaus, an infirmary for people with leprosy, from the Haspelgässchen lane in town out to the Breitfeld, within the parish of Bolligen. Work on the infirmary chapel (Siechenkapelle) started the same year and was finished by 1501, which explains the date range in the site's name. The new building replaced an earlier chapel that had had its own chaplaincy since 1365.

The infirmary belonged to Bern's Great Hospital, now known as the Burgerspital, so the chapel served the residents of the home rather than nearby villages.

How has it changed over time?

After a fire the chapel was rebuilt and enlarged. The Bern building inventory gives 1683 for this work, while the psychiatry museum's chronicle says 1682. Another survivor of the old complex is the Siechenschlössli of 1599. The federal ISOS inventory of protected village and town sites lists both buildings in its entry for the Waldau area.

Over the following centuries the grounds took on a new role, and a psychiatric hospital grew up around the former infirmary. The chapel remains one of the oldest buildings in the whole estate.

What can you see?

From outside you see the compact chapel set among the green grounds of the clinic. A short walk around the area lets you take in neighbouring historic hospital buildings. Inside, the Swiss Museum of Psychiatry documents how mental illness has been understood and treated in Switzerland. The visit therefore pairs architecture with the story of how care for the sick and outcast has changed from the Middle Ages to today.

How do you get there?

The chapel is on Bolligenstrasse in the Waldau district, a few kilometres from Bern's old town. You can reach it by public transport or by car, and the clinic grounds are open to walkers as a park. If you plan to visit the museum, check the current opening hours on the Swiss Museum of Psychiatry's website first, as it is not open every day.

When should you go?

Late spring to autumn is the best time, when the park around the clinic is green and dry weather suits a stroll. Allow about an hour, a little longer if you tour the museum. The chapel combines easily with a day in Bern: the UNESCO-listed old town in the morning, quieter Waldau in the afternoon.

Who is it for?

The chapel suits readers of medieval history, sacred architecture and the history of medicine. For other visitors it is a calm stop off the main routes that shows how Bern treated its sick and excluded five centuries ago.

Frequently asked questions

When was Waldau Chapel built?

Construction began in 1491 and the chapel was complete by 1501. After a fire it was enlarged and rebuilt in 1682 or 1683, depending on the source.

What was it originally used for?

It was the chapel of a leprosy infirmary moved to the Breitfeld in 1491. The infirmary belonged to Bern's Great Hospital.

What is inside today?

The Swiss Museum of Psychiatry. The chapel stands next to the main building of the Waldau University Psychiatric Clinic.

Where exactly is it?

On Bolligenstrasse in Bern's Waldau district, north-east of the city centre.