History
Charnel was built in the first half of the 13th century, and was rebuilt considerably in the first half of the 14th century. In the gothic period, the upper chapel was added to it, and the interior was decorated with wall paintings. From this period there are also gothic windows with stone tracery and an entrance portal. The rebuilt chapel was to be consecrated in 1423 and again due to the murder committed in it in 1431. As a chapel, the rotunda was used until the 16th century, and then until the 18th century it served as an armory. In 1731, it was once again dedicated, and again served for liturgical purposes. In the eighties and nineties of the last century, research and renovation works were carried out here.
Architecture
Charnel is a two-story rotunda consisting of a lower morgue and an upper chapel. On the north-west side, at the rotunda, there was a very small room in the thickness of the walls, which apparently served as a sacristy. Charnel was also directly connected to the gate tower of the town castle. The windows and the entrance portal were converted into gothic ones in the 15th century – larger, pointed and with traceries. Both storeys were covered with six-part rib vaults, while in the lower part the vault was connected with a massive hexagonal boss. The upper chapel in the Middle Ages was covered with frescoes depicting the life of the martyr St. Erasmus, including several drastic torture scenes.
bibliography:
Website apsida.sk, Kremnica – karner.
Website muzeumkremnica.sk, Karner.