Beram
A cemetery chapel outside a village, painted in 1474 with a Dance of Death that spares nobody.
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The chapel of St Mary on the Rocks stands in the cemetery outside Beram and looks like nothing from outside. Inside, Vincent of Kastav and his workshop covered the walls in 1474 with a cycle of the life of Christ and the Virgin, and above the entrance a Dance of Death: a line of figures led by skeletons playing instruments, in which pope, cardinal, king, queen, innkeeper, child and beggar all go the same way, with the merchant trying to bribe his skeleton. It is among the best preserved medieval fresco cycles in Croatia and one of the most complete Dance of Death images in this part of Europe.
What you actually see
- A fresco cycle of 1474 - by Vincent of Kastav and his workshop.
- A Dance of Death - pope and beggar led away by the same skeletons.
- The merchant offering a bribe - the detail everyone remembers.
- A plain exterior - nothing outside suggests the interior.
When to go
April to October, when the keyholder is more reliably available. Two hours.
Honest expectations
The chapel is locked and getting in means contacting the keyholder in the village in advance - turning up unannounced often fails. There is no lighting beyond what is switched on. Photography may be restricted.
Nearby
Pazin and its castle are south-east; Motovun is north-west.
What to pack for Beram
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
