Belvedere Palace Chapel

About

Belvedere Palace Chapel is a chapel located in the south eastern corner tower of the Upper Belvedere in Vienna, Austria. It was designed by the Austrian architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt.

History: Construction of the chapel was completed in 1723. The Palace Chapel was first opened to the public in May 1753. Up to this time, it had been reserved for the daily prayers of Prince Eugene and a select group of eminent individuals made up of the nobility, artists, and scholars. An Inventory of the Imperial and Royal Palace Chapel in the Belvedere from 1776 lists all the articles required to hold a Holy Mass. It can therefore be assumed with certainty that it was used for ecclesiastical purposes. At the end of the war in 1918 and the abdication of the last emperor of the Habsburg monarchy, the palace ensemble became state property. While both palaces were severely damaged during World War II, the Belvedere Palace Chapel survived intact. The chapel initially remained unused, but was returned to its original use under the direction of Hans Aurenhammer. Commemorative Masses were celebrated each year on two occasions: on April 21, the anniversary of the death of Prince Eugene of Savoy...