Wallfahrtskapelle Ernsting

Ernsting pilgrimage chapel
The village of Ernsting in Ostermiething was settled very early on due to the favourable living conditions - good spring water, fertile soil, open views. The Roman road from Salzburg to Passau also passed through Ernsting. The documentary mention of a small church dedicated to St Bartholomew dates back to 1004.
St Bartholomew's Church was later replaced by a larger church. This was dedicated to St Margaret and had a licence to hold masses. It stood next to the Ramböckhaus and was demolished in 1786 under Joseph II. The stones from the church were used to build the Schulstöckel, today's Abranowitschhaus. Paving stones from the church are also still visible in the porch of the "Wirt z'Ernsting" inn. Later, another chapel was built opposite the current chapel and consecrated in 1852, which fell victim to road construction in the early 1960s. Reconstruction by the public or church was rejected. At the suggestion of Rudolf and Berta Schwaiger, the founding of an association for a new chapel was discussed on All Saints' Day in 1963 and the "Ernstinger Wallfahrts-Kapellenverein" (Ernsting Pilgrimage Chapel Association) was founded, with the master carpenter Anton Schmied from Ernsting as its first chairman. The almost 100 members at the time set themselves the task of building and maintaining a new chapel. The landlords Justine and Johann Wengler provided the land for the current chapel free of charge. Construction of the chapel began in 1963 under the planning of engineer Franz Messerklinger. The entire construction costs were covered by donations from association members and companies. The inauguration was celebrated on 25 October 1964. The Ernsting Chapel Association under the current chairman, Franz Messerklinger, is solely responsible for the maintenance and "operation" of the chapel, which is dedicated to the "Queen of Heaven at Maria Kirchental", a well-known place of pilgrimage in St. Martin bei Lofer. The window grille above the entrance door with the sign for "Maria" and the railing on the forecourt with the inscription "Hilf" ("Help") indicate this. Copper reliefs on the entrance door show St Florian and St Leonhard. The chapel tower with a round roof and brass cross contains two bells, which are rung during masses and events. A small fountain was built in the forecourt.
The interior of the chapel is furnished with a small altar niche containing a statue of the Queen of Heaven. The altar table consists of a marble slab on stone pillars. On the walls are figures of St Joseph, St Barbara and St Christopher. The simple wooden pews offer space for around 35 people. In addition to the carved wooden cross, the chapel has recently been enriched with a new, hand-painted picture of the Queen of Heaven, Maria Kirchental, with a detailed depiction of the church near St Martin and the Ernstinger Chapel. extensive renovation work was necessary in 1989 and in summer 2007 in order to preserve this gem. Thanks to the active help of the chapel association, it was possible to restore the chapel to its former splendour. Without its members, it would not be possible to maintain the chapel in this form.
The Ernsting pilgrimage chapel has become an important cultural institution and serves as a spiritual place for baptisms, memorial masses and anniversary weddings. Ostermiething's parish priest, Markus Menner, holds weekly mass, baptisms and other celebrations in the Ernsting chapel. The chapel is open to everyone to attend the Thursday mass at 7 pm.