Also Refered As:

Beinhaus hallstatt

Bone House, Hallstatt Overview

Hallstatt Bone House, also known as the Beinhaus or Charnel House, is a unique and historically significant site located in St. Michael's Chapel, adjacent to the Catholic parish church. It is known for its unusual historical narrative and the eerie yet artistic presentation of skulls. Reaching the chapel required climbing plenty stairs.

Established in the 12th century, the Bone House addresses the challenge of limited burial space in Hallstatt's small cemetery. With cremation historically prohibited, graves were reopened 10 to 15 years after burial, and the exhumed skulls and long bones were cleaned and placed in the ossuary. Beginning around 1720, a tradition emerged of painting the skulls with symbolic decorations, including floral motifs, crosses, and inscriptions of names and dates. This practice served to honor the deceased and preserve their identities within the community.

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