Karner Pulkau
Historical sites
Description
A jewel in the shape of a round chapel, which was built in the 13th century as an imitation of the Holy Sepulchre.
The charnel house (ossuary) owes its shape as a round chapel to the Crusaders. They wanted to have an imitation of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in their homeland. Around the middle of the 14th century, it was given Gothic gable ends. The figures on the gable tops depict the Pantocrator, the donor couple, a four-petalled rose and a pelican. At the top of the charnel is a so-called Jerusalem cross.
Several consecration crosses have been preserved inside the charnel. A head of Christ can be seen as the keystone. The Gothic stained glass window depicts St. Helen. The gem cross (medieval cross with precious stones and pearls) was created on the occasion of the Pope's visit in 1983.
