Between Beauty and Truth – the Soul Window

“If it isn't true, it's well invented”, as a charming Italian proverb goes– attributed to the medieval monk Giordano Bruno. The saying also applies to the historical so-called soul windows, found in various cultures. Their purpose, however, remains not entirely clear.

In the culture of the Walser people—and thus also in Graubünden—soul windows, also known as soul beams, are believed to have been opened to allow the soul of a deceased person to leave the room. A beautiful idea. However, it may well be that these small openings were used quite profanely to let in light and allow for the passage of heat. Or, as one researcher of traditional farmhouses has suggested, they may simply be a romantic invention—dreamed up by early folklorists.

Either way, the sight of a soul window sends a shiver down one's spine. And a fine specimen—displayed in a fitting historical setting—can be found at the Chasa Retica Valley Museum in Samnaun.