Wachendorf - Bruder-Klaus-Feldkapelle

The chapel, dedicated to Nikolaus von der Flue (aka "Brother Klaus") a Swiss hermit and ascetic, was erected 2005-2007 following a design by the internationally renowned Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. It was donated by local family, owner of the fields around, who had met Peter Zumthor when he built the Diocesan Art Museum "Kolumba" in (near) Cologne.

With the support of many volunteers this minimalist tower-like, windowless chapel was created. It is located isolated in the fields, about half an hour walk from the next parkig lot.

The chapel was inspired by the hermitage, Brother Klaus lived in for decades end of the 15th century. The building started with a tent-like structure constructed out of more than 100 spruce trunks. Around this inner construction the chapel was built by tamped concrete, what took 24 days. Later a fire was started inside, which caused the trunks to dry and peel off the concrete so that they could be removed, leaving marks on the inner walls.