Architectural circular route to the Bruder Klaus Chapel near Bad Münstereifel

Those interested in modern architecture will be thrilled by this route: From afar, the building resembling a concrete silo stands out. A local farmer donated the chapel, which was designed by star architect Peter Zumthor - without a fee. Only inside does the sacred purpose of the building become clear. From the outside, only a small cross above the entrance door hints at the use of the 12-meter-high building. The chapel is dedicated to Bruder Klaus, Saint Nicholas of Flüe. 112 tree trunks from the forest near Bad Münstereifel were cut for the chapel's inner framework. They formed a tent-like space that then served as a kind of formwork for many layers of concrete. The concrete consists of a mixture of reddish sand and river gravel found in the area. A fire burning for three weeks inside the chapel left the impressive interior. The traces of the trunks form the inner walls, and the acrid smell of burnt wood will likely linger for some time. There is no roof, so all four elements—fire, water, earth, and air—can unite there, as rainwater collects and forms puddles on the floor, which consists of a lead-tin alloy. The use of lead is meant to recall the mining town of Mechernich. The connection holes of the concrete formwork, created after the chapel was burned out, are now filled with 300 glass hemispheres. This creates a unique atmosphere inside the chapel.