'Golgatha' in Eisenstadt, Austria

One of the most interesting and unusual buildings in Eisenstadt is the 'Golgatha', an artificially built 'mountain', honeycombed with caves and stairs and niches and small grottos and tiny chapels. It serves as a 'natural' display of the tale of the passion of Christ by life-sized figures.

1701 Prince Paul I. Esterhazy placed the headstone - by 1707 the building received its consecration but was not finished until 1710. About 30 angels guard the roof which is interveined by walkable paths.

Entering the Golgatha the visitors find themselves in the formally so called 'Chapel of Gethsemani'. (It also contains a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary, thus making the chapel also a destination for pilgrims.)
Here the stations of the cross begins with the scene 'agony in the garden Gethsemane'. In 24 stations - partly including scenes from the life of holy Mary - the sufferings of Jesus are presented in small scenes and groups, illustrated by 260 wooden figures and 60 carved from stone.
These figures are quite loudly colored and have rustic faces; nevertheless they poignantly illustrate the passion of Christ. The names of their laymen sculptors are not known.

The last three stations can be seen in the 'Chapel of the Cross' atop the building - it can be reached only by way over the roof-paths.