Art and Architecture

Swiss artist and architect Johannes Hugentobler won the 1947 design competition and shaped the entire aesthetic of the chapel. The building is a single-nave space in rough natural stone, with a flat-closing choir and a simple bell beam (Glockenjoch) rising above the roof ridge — a design so harmonious with the landscape that the chapel seems to grow out of the moraine beneath the surrounding peaks.↗↗

The most striking interior feature is the round choir window, Hugentobler's own stained-glass design. In glowing colors it shows Mary enthroned as Queen of Heaven with the Christ Child, Saint Brother Klaus to her right, and an angel to her left — a composition of serenity that commands the attention of anyone who steps inside.↗

In 1962, a large mosaic was added to the north wall: the "Sennen-Ave" (Alpine herders' Hail Mary), designed by Josef Seger and executed by mosaicist Hermann Bauch. It depicts a rich company of saints — Mary, Peter, Theodul (patron of the Valais and Alpine travelers), Sebastian, Cyprian, Wendelin, Vitus, and the Holy Trinity — a visual prayer card for the herders and farmers who once populated this high valley.↗↗

The chapel's small bell, set in the open belfry above the ridge, has its own history: it was salvaged from the old demolished parish church of Triesenberg below, linking the high-altitude chapel to centuries of local faith.↗↗

The Setting

The Friedenskapelle sits in the northern part of Malbun, a village in a glacial trough valley at roughly 1,600 meters. The valley is almost circularly enclosed by a ring of rocky peaks, with steep scree slopes descending to a gentler moraine floor where the chapel stands. In every season, this dramatic amphitheater of stone and sky frames the small building — the mountain massif behind it becomes part of the architecture.↗↗

In winter, Malbun transforms into Liechtenstein's principal ski resort with 23 kilometers of pistes, and the chapel sits within the ski and hiking area, accessible from the village. In summer, it is a natural stopping point on the valley's walking routes, whether you are heading toward the Augstenberg (2,359 m), the Pfälzerhütte mountain refuge, or the Fürstin-Gina-Weg high trail toward the Sareiserjoch pass.↗

Visiting

The Friedenskapelle is a working place of worship, not a museum. Many locals and guests attend the weekend service each summer, while others come simply to sit in quiet reflection before the round window or to light a candle. The interior is small and intimate — a single nave where light from the stained glass bathes the stone walls in color. The altar, sculpted in 1967 by Gottfried Hilti, stands slightly forward from the wall, allowing the priest to face the congregation in the modern style.↗

The chapel is easily reached from the center of Malbun village on Turnastrasse. It is open during the day; in winter it can be visited by ski tourers and walkers as well as by those staying in the village's hotels. Given its elevation, temperatures can drop noticeably even in summer, so bringing a layer is wise.↗↗

Beyond the Chapel

Malbun itself is a pleasant high Alpine village with a handful of hotels, mountain restaurants, and a relaxed pace. The historic Alpenhotel Malbun, the valley's original 1908 tourist station, still welcomes guests. Summer hikers can reach the 2,359-meter Augstenberg for panoramic views over the Rätikon range toward Austria, or explore the wild beauty of the Nenzinger Himmel beyond the Sareiserjoch.↗

The name Malbun comes from Romansh — "alp bun" or "val bun," meaning a beautiful, productive alp or valley. The Walser people who settled here in the late 13th century would have recognized this beauty; the Friedenskapelle, rising from their ancient grazing land, is the most eloquent modern monument to it.↗