Chapelle-ossuaire Saint-Michel de Wihr-au-Val

About

Saint-Michel Ossuary Chapel is a historic monument located in the cemetery of Wihr-au-Val, in the French department of Haut-Rhin.

Location: The chapel is to the north of the church of Saint Martin, a building of 1873 having replaced the former parish church. It was no longer to the north, approximately at the site of the current cemetery, and therefore closer to the chapel. Before the 19th century, the cemetery surrounded the church and chapel and probably had a larger area: the land located upstream to the north bears the name of "Gräber" and graves have already been discovered there, as well as others in the extension of the church choir. None of these burials was dated, however, leaving doubt as to the length of time the cemetery was located there.

History: The building was built at the end of the 15th century. It then served not only as a chapel, but also as an ossuary of the cemetery of Wihr-au-Val, which also served the village of Walbach until 1696. In 1870, the chapel was described as in poor condition, with the roof threatening to collapse. Summary repairs to the...