Chapel of St. Brida, Alp Nadels

The Catholic alpine chapel of St. Brigida (Caplutta d'Alp da Sontga Brida) is located south of Trun on the alpine pastures of the “Cuolms da Nadels” at 1938 m.a.s.l. It can be reached on foot from Trun or from Zignau (Ringgenberg) in a 4 - 5 hour hike.The alpine chapel was built in 1734. In the summer of 1734, Father Ursicin Genal consecrated the chapel in honor of St. Brigida, patron saint of cattle. The chapel received a bell with the inscription in 1736: SAINT BRIGITTA PRAY FOR US ANNO 1736 - ANTON KEISER IN ZUG CAST ME - ST. JOHANNES - JAKOB JACUMET”.

In earlier years there were processions of supplication on foot from Trun or Zignau to Nadels. The dates and participants are recorded on plaques hanging in the chapel: 1853 with Father Benedetg Rensch from Zignau with 30 people; 1872 Sur Giachen Giusep Maissen from Trun with 63 people; 1925 Chaplain Florin Flury from Trun and 1934 Chaplain Placi Castelberg from Zignau.In 1936 the church was renovated and in 1949 a new bell was cast by the Rüetschi company in Aarau. The bell was consecrated by Pastor Sialm on July 24, 1949. In 1970 the chapel was given a new tin roof and in 1981 the altar was rebuilt. In 1982, the chapel was renovated and on September 5, 1982, the shrine was consecrated by Pastors Cathomas and Casanova. 

In summer, when the Alps are covered with snow, church services are held once a year in Sontga Brida.The south-facing choir is slightly recessed, closed on three sides and raised by one step. It is vaulted with an adapted barrel ceiling.

The altar has an antependium with leaf and gold decoration around the central section, in which the patron saint Sontga Brida is depicted as a nun. On the altarpiece, which is semi-circular at the top, we see Sontga Brida with the infant Jesus in the middle, and the three saints mentioned in the petition in the foreground. At the height of the predella, outside the altar, are the statuettes of St. Brigida with a Bible and staff as the patron saint of cattle (left) and St. Wendelin with a staff and a lamb on his armpit as the field and cattle protection saint (right).

The nave (l. 4.00 m, w. 3.55 m) has a barrel ceiling with an empty stucco medallion. Above the door are the dates of the renovations: 1936 and 1982. The framed plaques with the names of the participants hang on the walls in memory of the earlier pilgrimages. The large mural by Gion Giachen Ruegg de Sumvitg 1718 (Johann Jakob Riegg) is worthy of note. It shows the chapel's patron saint in religious costume, a man kneeling on the left and a scroll in the middle. The gabled roof with a new tin roof carries the bell support above the entrance. As a special feature, the bell is rung by hand from the outside.

(Text recorded by: Regiun Surselva)