Feldkapelle Anniversary

A chapel in the mountains, a bridge between peoples

Above the village of Fierozzo (Vlarotz), in the heart of the Mòcheni Valley (Bersntol) in the province of Trento, stands the Feldkapelle at an altitude of 1,850 meters—a small Austro-Hungarian military chapel. It was built during the First World War by the Standschützen units guarding the Fersina front, with the military chaplain Father Raimund Zolbl of Tannheim. Having fallen into ruin over the following decades, it was faithfully rebuilt in 2000 by the Fierozzo Alpini Group, which has guarded its memory ever since.

Commemorating the Fallen

Every year, on the first Sunday of July, the Alpini of Fierozzo host a ceremony to remember all those who fell in the war, with the participation of local and provincial authorities and Austrian delegations from across the border. The celebration pays special tribute to the victims of the terrible avalanches of the winter of 1916-1917, which struck soldiers stationed at high altitudes on both sides of the front. The anniversary is both a moment of reflection and a message of peace and brotherhood between peoples, reuniting former enemies in the same shared rite of memory.

How it works

The program spans Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is often dedicated to a hike along the Great War positions and moments of testimony. Sunday includes a gathering in the village, a wreath-laying at the war memorial, and the ascent to the Feldkapelle in Val Cava, where Holy Mass, the flag-raising, and a wreath-laying at the cross take place. Local choirs accompany the ceremony, which concludes with a convivial gathering. The chapel can be reached on foot along the SAT E371 trail, passing by trenches, shelters, and war artifacts that are still visible today.

A heritage of Alpine memory

The Feldkapelle Anniversary is one of the most heartfelt events in the historical memory of Trentino-Alto Adige. It represents the deep bond between the Mòcheni community of Fierozzo and its border history, carefully preserved by the Alpini Group and passed down from generation to generation along the paths of the Great War.