The Stürtzel Chapel

The family chapel of the Stürtzel, along with the university chapel, is one of the earliest completed chapels in the choir of the Freiburg Minster.

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Konrad Stürtzel

Konrad Stürtzel von Buchheim († 1509) and his second wife Ursula, née Loucher, donated this family chapel, around 1505. It remains unclear as to whether the jurist and Court Chancellor to Emperor Maximilian I was buried here in the chapel or, like his wife, in the Martinskirche opposite Freiburg Town Hall.


Stained Glass Windows

  • This stained-glass window on the left depict the donor kneeling with the Stürtzel coat of arms before St Nicholas.

    This stained-glass window on the left depict the donor kneeling with the Stürtzel coat of arms before St Nicholas.

  • Konrad Stürtzel is gazing to the left towards the Virgin Mother and the Magi adoring the Child.

    Konrad Stürtzel is gazing to the left towards the Virgin Mother and the Magi adoring the Child.

    Architecture in the Background


    Holy Helpers Altarpiece

    It is not known whether the Holy Helpers altarpiece (ca. 1530, Augsburg school) was part of the original furnishings of the chapel. On the central panel, Saints Anthony, Augustine and Roch can be seen, flanked by Saints Christopher and Sebastian. On the predella, the altarpiece’s base, there are depictions of the Holy Trinity, Our Lady of Sorrows and St Anna, Madonna and Child. The retable, the uppermost appendage of the altarpiece, (originating from Hans Baldung Grien’s circle) shows Christ’s deposition from the cross.

    Saint Sebastian

    Saint Anthony

    Saint Augustine

    Saint Roch

    Saint Christopher


    Coats of Arms

    • The Stürtzel coat of arms on the left side of the chapel grille

      The Stürtzel coat of arms on the left side of the chapel grille

    • An unidentified coat of arms on the right side of the grille

      An unidentified coat of arms on the right side of the grille

    • The boss in the anteroom with the Stürtzel coat of arms.

      The boss in the anteroom with the Stürtzel coat of arms.


      Baroque Plaque

      Items that were later added to this chapel include the Baroque plaque on the upper right-hand side of the chapel wall commemorating the Mayor of Freiburg Johann Stephan Bayer († 1714).


      Baptismal Font

      A Baroque baptismal font from 1768 by Johann Christian Wentzinger depicts Christ’s baptism in the Jordan.

      • Baroque baptismal font, designed by Johann Christian Wentzinger, 1768, stone and wood.

        Baroque baptismal font, designed by Johann Christian Wentzinger, 1768, stone and wood.

      • Christ is baptised by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

        Christ is baptised by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.


        Golden Figurines

        The three gilded Late Gothic wooden figurines depicting Saints Nicholas, Stephen and Lawrence originally came from the St. Nicholas Church in Freiburg, which was destroyed in 1677. Their location within the Minster has changed several times before being recently placed in the Stürtzel Chapel.

        St Nicholas, St Stephen and St Laurence, wood, by Joseph Dominik Glaenz, 15th century


        Stürtzel in the Minster

        The altarpiece with the Adoration of the Kings from Stürtzel's city palace (now the Basler Hof) came into the possesion of the Freiburg Minster at the beginning of the 19th century. It's currently located in the south aisle of the minster. This altarpiece from 1505 is probably one of the best-known works by the Upper Rhine sculptor Hans Wydyz.

        • Three Kings Altarpiece, by Hans Wydyz, 1505, Fribourg Minster.

          Three Kings Altarpiece, by Hans Wydyz, 1505, Fribourg Minster.