Altötting

This small town is famous for the Gnadenkapelle (Chapel of Grace), one of the most-visited shrines in Germany. This is a tiny octagonal chapel which keeps a venerated statue of the Virgin Mary. According to the legend, in 1489, a 3-year-old local boy who had drowned in the river was revived when his grieving mother placed him in front of a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary at the high altar. News of the miracle quickly spread, and the chapel was immediately extended by the erection of a nave and a covered walkway.
The tradition of Bavaria calls for the heart of the deceased king to be placed in an urn and kept at the chapel at Altötting. The heart of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, the builder of Neuschwanstein castle lies in this chapel, along with that of his grandfathers and father.

I love the surprise of learning something interesting from

a postcard. When I chose this card for swap I was attracted to

the image of this Cloister covered with Votive pictures, and coming

to learn later,what importance this place holds

Thank you Johanna for this wonderful card

Sent: 27 March 2013   Received: 9 April 2013   Travelled: 12 days