Chapel of Virgin Mary

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Chapel of Virgin Mary

The Chapel of Virgin Mary is a classic building situated in the only cemetery in Snina. It was built by Stefan Rholl in 1842.

Because his family had concealed roots in Snina, he built a tomb with chapel for the deceased relatives. A former cemetery, which was made on the decline created by the backing-up of river Pčolinka, was not suitable as Pčolinka posed a threat when it flooded, even for a single cemetery. The most suitable solution was to sacrifice his vineyard to produce a cemetery.

Render of model of Chapel of Virgin Mary

In 1832, Stefan Rholl built a chapel of saint Jan Nepomucky in Snina between two bridges across the river Cirocha. This chapel was destroyed in 1935, when the two wooden bridges were taken down to build one beton bridge.

Roots of Rholls in Snina began in 1799 when businessman Jozef Rholl bought the lordship of Snina from the sons of countess Terézia van Dernáthová, an important event in Snina's history. Jozef Rholl came from a family which was undertaking metallurgy in Gemer and Spis. In 1809, Jozef Rholl built iron-works with attached walled houses for the workers.

Under the chapel was the family tomb of Rholl, which was robbed during World War II. On a wall inside this chapel, a table with the tomb title in Hungarian is well preserved:

"Here lies Katherine, wife of respectable and courageous Jozef Rholl, born Uszfalvai. She sleeps forever 24., on the day of Saint Michael in the year 1803, in the 55th year of her life. With the feeling of thanks and deep regard son of Stefan, built in 1842."