Silent Night Chapel (Stille Nacht Kapelle)
Silent Night Chapel (Stille Nacht Kapelle)
Silent Night Chapel (Stille Nacht Kapelle)
4.5
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Constructed in 1937, this church was built on the site where the church of Father Josef Mohr, one of the composers of "Silent Night," was once located.
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4.5
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Michael B
bridgewater, United States9 contributions
Dec 2022
This small little town outside of Salzburg is worth a short cab or train ride to see the chapel where Silent night was written and first played. We happened to go after a snowfall making it seem like a snow globe. We did make the mistake of going early in the week as the towns Christmas markets are only open Thursday through Sunday. Regardless this definitely put the family in the Christmas spirit.
Written 20 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
photobugger2015
North Sydney, Canada92 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Excellent place to visit. We enjoyed the simple town, with friendly people. The little chapel was so nice. The gift shop and museum were just below and we found it so nice. I’d definitely recommend it. Especially if your a Christmas buff like myself.
Written 11 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GreenTravelCat
Salzburg, Austria475 contributions
Dec 2010
My family and I are Oberndorf locals. Every year on Christmas Eve we start our celebrations by having a cup of Gluehwein at the Silent Night Chapel before heading back home for our Christmas dinner.
The Silent Night chapel is a lovely place to visit on Christmas Eve, there’s a charming little Christmas market that is open from the afternoon offering some traditional crafts and snacks.
On Christmas Eve it can be quite crowded between 4 and 7 PM (loads of buses take visitors from everywhere in the world to the Chapel), but afterwards it's more or less deserted because everyone's home celebrating.
There is a guided walk by torchlight from Arnsdorf (where the teacher Franz Xaver Gruber, the composer of the world-famous song “Silent Night, Holy Night”, once lived) to the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf (the home of the Catholic priest Josef Mohr who wrote the lyrics for the carol).
I've never done the walk from Arnsdorf to Oberndorf myself, but I heard from many people that it’s a lovely experience. I would guess it takes about an hour.
The most important prerequisite for doing this walk is wearing warm clothes and shoes because it can be really cold in December. A nice alternative is to go to Oberndorf by the Lokalbahn (train between Salzburg and Oberndorf), spend some time there at the Christmas market close to the church, and then stroll to the Chapel along the river Salzach (a mere 10 min walk).
The “program” at the Chapel includes some salutary shooting and carol singing around 4-6 PM, and of course the chapel can be visited (though it’s usually highly crowded on this special evening). It’s normally free of charge to visit throughout the year, but I’m not sure if there are any entrance fees on Christmas Eve. You actually don’t need to go inside the Chapel, it’s tiny and there’s only a small altar, some benches and a guestbook that can be signed. It’s just as good to be watching the atmosphere from outside, the Christmas decorations, illuminated trees and choirs. And snow is almost guaranteed. ;-)
Most Oberndorf locals love welcoming visitors to the Silent Night Chapel at any time of the year, but it’s even more special for locals of such a rather small town to be "the place to be" for so many people from all around the world on Christmas Eve.
Feel free to send me a message if you need any more information!
The Silent Night chapel is a lovely place to visit on Christmas Eve, there’s a charming little Christmas market that is open from the afternoon offering some traditional crafts and snacks.
On Christmas Eve it can be quite crowded between 4 and 7 PM (loads of buses take visitors from everywhere in the world to the Chapel), but afterwards it's more or less deserted because everyone's home celebrating.
There is a guided walk by torchlight from Arnsdorf (where the teacher Franz Xaver Gruber, the composer of the world-famous song “Silent Night, Holy Night”, once lived) to the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf (the home of the Catholic priest Josef Mohr who wrote the lyrics for the carol).
I've never done the walk from Arnsdorf to Oberndorf myself, but I heard from many people that it’s a lovely experience. I would guess it takes about an hour.
The most important prerequisite for doing this walk is wearing warm clothes and shoes because it can be really cold in December. A nice alternative is to go to Oberndorf by the Lokalbahn (train between Salzburg and Oberndorf), spend some time there at the Christmas market close to the church, and then stroll to the Chapel along the river Salzach (a mere 10 min walk).
The “program” at the Chapel includes some salutary shooting and carol singing around 4-6 PM, and of course the chapel can be visited (though it’s usually highly crowded on this special evening). It’s normally free of charge to visit throughout the year, but I’m not sure if there are any entrance fees on Christmas Eve. You actually don’t need to go inside the Chapel, it’s tiny and there’s only a small altar, some benches and a guestbook that can be signed. It’s just as good to be watching the atmosphere from outside, the Christmas decorations, illuminated trees and choirs. And snow is almost guaranteed. ;-)
Most Oberndorf locals love welcoming visitors to the Silent Night Chapel at any time of the year, but it’s even more special for locals of such a rather small town to be "the place to be" for so many people from all around the world on Christmas Eve.
Feel free to send me a message if you need any more information!
Written 22 September 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Huey
Seattle, WA87 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
Whilst we stayed in Salzburg, this was a very short ride to Oberndorf from Salzburg central. A 10-15 minute walk from the station down the river walk you find the Chapel. just follow the crowd coming off the train with you. On Christmas Eve, this is easy to find. Just follow the lights and the singing. Recommend that you do this on your own. Guided tours are too regimented for this family anyways. Get there at least an hour early. Go into the chapel. Feel the atmosphere the sights the sounds before the ceremony starts. Get some Gluwhine from the little kiosks just at the foot of the chapel to keep you warm. Dress warm and enjoy the ceremony on Dec 24th. This past December 24th 2013 was the first time it was webcasted. So perhaps next year your family can see you on the feed. Nice little restaurants in town to have a warm inexpensive dinner afterwards. We found this very quaint pizza place just on the other side of the little town street. This will also avoid the mass exodus to the train station.
Written 15 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DonnainSpringfield
West Springfield, VA131 contributions
Dec 2012 • Couples
We were staying in Garmisch, Germany for the holidays, and decided to go to Salzburg, Austria for Christmas Eve Day and on to Oberndorf for the Christmas Eve service. We arrived in Salzburg in time to get up to the fortress for the noontime gun salute that they have on major holidays. Very nice to see the men dressed in traditional costume, and they were happy to have their photos taken after the salute. We toured the museum there, then went to the Christmas market in town. We left Salzburg in mid-afternoon and headed 20 minutes north to Oberndorf, where we easily found parking. The Silent Night chapel was open for viewing with just short line waiting to get inside. Oberndorf's Christmas market was in full swing and a 4-piece band played Christmas carols all afternoon. Our dinner was from the Lions' Club, who had a stand selling bratwurst. We enjoyed mingling with locals and people from many different countries. We sat on a large planter between a Japanese and an Australian. The atmosphere is very festive although closer to 5:00 it began to get very crowded. The service was in both German and English, and lasted about 30 minutes. Everyone sings "Silent Night" at the end, so you hear it in many different languages. I was so moved that I could barely get out a few words. The service was a dream fulfilled.
Written 9 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jen M
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina31 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
We went on Christmas Eve to the Chapel and as expected it was extremely crowded with tourists and locals. In the brochures the evening is touted as a magical time to hear the story of Silent Night and have it sung in various languages which seemed like a great way to spend some of our Christmas Eve. In reality it is a typical, short Christmas Eve service with Silent Night sung at the end. We stood around for an hour waiting since it was far to crowed to wander around with a 3 and 5 year old. The chapel itself is very, very tiny and the service is held outside, if you are not right up in the front you don't see anything and listen to the whole thing on a loud speaker. I would defiantly not pay for the "tour" and just drive yourself or take public transport. We have checked this off our list of things to do and will not be doing it again.
Written 31 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iam3
Canyon Lake, CA244 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
We stopped by Oberndorf on our way from Salzburg to Munich to see the Silent Night Chapel. We had to wait to get in because there was a wedding in progress. To our surprise, it was a traditional Austrian ceremony with all of the guests in their finest traditional clothes. Seeing the wedding and the locals added to the joy we felt while visiting.
Written 7 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nanette T
Sydney, Australia1,046 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
The visit was a priority as it touched us so much in hearing the story of the composing of Silent Night and more recently watching movie ‘Silent Night’ and understanding the persecution from the senior Catholic Church representatives that this young priest received in writing the hymn and also encouraging ‘everyone’ to come to church not just the monied gentry! Heart rending! Loved the gift shop as it has lovely ‘special gifts’ and cards relating to this wonderful hymn - written in the absence of an organ or piano during the early wars in 1818. The area has been modernised with good parking and new toilet block for travellers. Loved the rebuilt chapel albeit it tiny, the commentary written in English and the beautiful view across to a church ⛪ surrounded by the river which destroyed the original church. Read the story before visiting to gain a true appreciation!
Written 7 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nigel K
Croydon, UK49 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
This tiny chapel is a replica of the original on the original site. It probably only seats about 30 people and has stained glass windows commemorating the writing of the Christmas Carol. The chapel is set in a pretty square and a bit off the beaten track, but close to the river. We visited in August and it was virtually deserted. There is a museum and a small souvenir shop nearby. If you are in the area, it is worth a visit for some pretty photos.
Written 4 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg521
Cumming, GA100 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
We visited the Silent Night chapel and Museum on our visit to Salzburg. It was too cool to see the original sheet music where the hymn was written and learn all about the author. The chapel was too unique. If you are in Salzburg, this is well worth the drive to see. We took the Silent Night tour with Bob's tour.
Written 14 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola que tal, estoy próximo a viajar a Austria y estaré en Salzburgo en víspera de navidad y leyendo tu publicación me interesa saber tu opinión y/o sugerencias.
Veo que hay tours especiales para esto pero quisiera saber si es preferible hacerlo con tour o si se puede hacer por su cuenta y que tan factible es y de ser así cual es el horario idoneo para hacer la visita y estar disfrutando en el pueblo.
Saludos!
Written 22 November 2018
Hallo, leider habe ich Ihre Nachricht erst jetzt gelesen. Ideal ist es natürlich, die Stille Nacht Kapelle zum Weihnachtsfest zu besuchen, allerdings ist dort dann natürlich viel los. Ansonsten kann die Kapelle das ganze Jahr lang besichtigt werden - in Ruhe und Stille. Es befindet sich dort auch ein Museum, in dem man sich über die Entstehungsgeschichte informieren kann. Man braucht ganz sicher dazu keine Gruppenreise. Am besten mit der Lokalbahn von Salzburg aus anzureisen (25 Minuten) oder mit dem eigenen Auto. Ich hoffe, Sie können diese Reise einmal planen.Beste Grüße nach Mexiko.
Written 27 December 2018
how did you travel to this location? we are staying in Salzburg
Written 21 August 2018
We also stayed in Salzburg. We took a local train from Salzburg.Bought the train tickets at the station. It makes a few short stops before reaching Obendorf. From the train station it is about a 20 minute walk to the Chapel. It is a flat walk, no hills to climb. I dont remember for sure, but I believe there are quite a few trains both ways. We spent about 2 hours there before returning. Its well worth the trip. There is also a museum next to the Chapel. We found a pine cone on the ground next to the Chapel and now hang it every year on our Christmas Tree.
Written 22 August 2018
I am curious to know what time the Christmas Eve service is?
Written 2 December 2015
It's at 17:00 or 5 pm local time.
Written 22 December 2015
Hello,
Can anyone tell me if there are places open to eat a Christmas eve dinner in Obendorf, after the silent night mass?
Thank you.
Written 1 November 2015
Well, it's not Mass (Eucharist) but a short 30-min open air service outside the chapel to commemorate the first performance of Silent Night in 1818. There are a few places to eat but as Christmas Eve dinner is the main Christmas meal in Austria and Germany, you will definitely need prior reservation.
Written 22 December 2015
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