Bern

Waldaukapelle

Building data

Denomination | Secular
Building type | Chapel
Year of construction | 1682
Architect | Hebler, Gottlieb
Town, canton | Bern, BE
Street address | Bolligenstrasse 131
GPS | 46.9652628 7.4853134
Google Maps | Swisstopo

Reuse

Year of reuse | 2000
Ownership | Unchanged
Building interventions | Unchanged
Form of use | Shared use
Type of use | Miscellaneous
Brief information | Used for religious and cultural events.
Further information | see below

Status of information

Entry created | 2017/08
Entry last updated | 2024/02

Further information

The Waldau Chapel (formerly the chapel for the sick) is situated in the Waldau district, which consists mainly of the site housing the clinics and facilities of the University Psychiatric Services of Bern (UPD), which have their origins in the psychiatric asylum, the Waldau care home and rest home, founded in 1855. Built between 1491 and 1501, it was remodelled in 1683, when the chancel was demolished. The chapel belongs to the Canton of Bern.

For over 20 years, in addition to religious services, the chapel has regularly hosted cultural events attended by patients, members of the clinic’s staff, as well as interested members of the public from Bern and the surrounding municipalities. Over the years, the chapel has thus established itself as a venue for concerts, plays, historical dances and many other performances. Alongside more traditional concerts, alternative forms are regularly featured, incorporating instrumental improvisations, sometimes accompanied by artistic elements. These cultural events are funded by sponsors, the Bern Psychiatric Museum and generous voluntary contributions from visitors.

Web links

Vitrosearch
Psychiatry Museum