The Sepulchral Chapel on Württemberg Mountain

Interior view

The chancel is separated from the congregation area by an iconostasis (partition decorated with images). This is adorned with paintings and icons from the Queen's possessions. Katharina remained a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, an indispensable condition for the marriage with the Lutheran Crown Prince. The Sepulchral Chapel has continued to be a Russian Orthodox church until today, and church services are held there on Whit Monday.

Icon: Cross stitch of Saint Katharina Icon of Mother of God "Jesus Pantokrator" of the icon Icon of Saint Katharina with "Oklad"

Through the glass roof in the center of the dome light falls into the interior and into the crypt located below it, which is covered in the middle of its ceiling vault with a cast iron grid. It is to here that the sarcophagus of the Queen of Carara marble was transported from the Cathedral (Stiftskirche) in Stuttgart in 1824. King Wilhelm was also laid to rest in this double sarcophagus forty years later. In addition to him, their daughter Marie has also been interred there since 1887. Her sister Sophie was buried as Queen of the Netherlands in Delft.

Since 1907 the chapel has been open to the public, and since that time the hill has been called "Württemberg" by order of King Wilhelm II. Wilhelm I had denied the right to burial for other members of the royal house, and therefore it will continue to be the solely the witness to the love between Katharina and Wilhelm von Württemberg. The King had the words "The love will never end" written over the entrance.

The west portico with entrance door to the chapel Detail-screen of the eastside with dedication inscription Ionic section of a potico
General view of the cupola with rosettes of stuck and the glazed "Oapion" Sarcophagus of Queen Katharina and King Wilhelm I. in the grypt of the Sepulchral Chapel Perfect stonemasonry on the eastside of the Sepulchral Chapel
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Technische Beratung, Gestaltung, Konzept und Umsetzung: Ralf Gatzki und Friederike Rook