Mönkloh Forest Chapel

A very nice little chapel on the side of the road. Go in and pause.

The Mönkloh forest chapel is a popular place for contemplation and inspiration. It is considered the smallest church in Northern Germany, is located in the Rantzauer Forest and is part of the 343 kilometer long Mönchsweg, which runs from Glückstadt in the southwest to Fehmarn in the northeast of Schleswig-Holstein.
It owes its construction to the private citizen and Catholic Hans-Jürgen Frese from Hamburg. In 2001 he leased the place from the state forest administration and had the little church built under seven splendid beech trees himself. The trees symbolize the apostles and offer protection from sun and rain.Since then, on October 3rd, the day of German unity, an ecumenical service has been held with the participation of Catholic and Protestant clergy, in which up to 300 believers take part. For the tenth anniversary, for example, the then Archbishop Dr. Werner Thissen in front of the small church.Numerous hikers, whether on foot or by bike, stop by the seven hundred year old beech trees under which the beautifully decorated chapel stands. People who have not seen a church from the inside for decades are inspired by the Mönkloh Chapel and trust the guest book with their most secret thoughts.Although Frese had to overcome some resistance before construction began, the church is very well received today; people there baptize their children and grandchildren in the chapel. In addition to baptisms, there are also regular weddings as well as silver, gold and diamond weddings.seliger-eduard-mueller.de/2019/05/18/waldkapelle