Astrid Chapel

Astrid Chapel tickets: which one to buy

The Astrid Chapel stands on the shore of Lake Lucerne at Küssnacht am Rigi, in the canton of Schwyz, Switzerland, about twenty minutes from Lucerne, and entry is free, with donations welcome. It is a small memorial chapel, built on the spot where Queen Astrid of Belgium was killed in a car accident in 1935, and it attracts many Belgian visitors. Küssnacht can be reached by train or bus from Lucerne, and boats on Lake Lucerne stop at the town.

Visitors often combine the chapel with the Hohle Gasse, the sunken lane where, according to legend, William Tell killed the tyrant Gessler, and with a trip up Mount Rigi, which can be reached by cable car from nearby Weggis. The chapel is open during the day. A car park is nearby, and the site is peaceful, surrounded by trees. Buses from Lucerne to Küssnacht stop close to the chapel on the lakeshore road.

Visiting Astrid Chapel: what to see

Queen Astrid of Belgium, born a Swedish princess, was loved by the Belgian people for her beauty and kindness. On 29 August 1935, while on holiday near Küssnacht, she was killed when the car driven by her husband, King Leopold III, left the road and crashed into a tree by the lake. She was twenty-nine years old. The Belgian people raised money for a memorial, and the chapel was built in 1936 on the spot of the accident. It is a small, simple building with a steep roof, and inside, it holds a painting of the Madonna and memorial plaques. Outside, a cross marks the exact place where the queen died, and the pear tree against which the car crashed stood nearby; a stone memorial commemorates her.

Visitors leave flowers and messages. The chapel's setting on the lakeshore, with views over the water to the mountains, gives it a peaceful, melancholic atmosphere. The chapel's windows are simple, and the interior is quiet, with a few benches for prayer. The memorial stone outside carries the queen's name and the date of the accident. Belgian flags and flowers are often placed at the site. The chapel's bell rings on special occasions. The lakeside path beside the chapel is used by walkers and cyclists. The site was restored in recent decades with funds from Belgium. Photographs of Queen Astrid are displayed inside. The view from the chapel takes in the lake and the Rigi massif.

Astrid Chapel opening hours and the best time to go

The chapel is open daily, from morning until evening. The anniversary of the queen's death on 29 August brings Belgian visitors and commemorations. Summer is the best season for combining the chapel with a boat trip on Lake Lucerne and a visit to Mount Rigi. Spring and autumn are pleasant, and winter is quiet. Allow about fifteen minutes for the chapel, and walk to the Hohle Gasse, the William Tell memorial chapel, about half an hour away. The Rigi, known as the Queen of the Mountains, can be reached by cogwheel railway from Vitznau or by cable car from Weggis.