Kapelle Klein-Jerusalem, Religious chapel in Willich, Germany
Kapelle Klein-Jerusalem is a chapel in Willich with two distinct levels separated by stairs. The upper level serves as the main worship area while the lower crypt houses replicas of sacred locations and burial spaces, creating a condensed devotional journey within the building.
Pastor Gerhard Vynhoven initiated construction in 1656 after experiencing turmoil and destruction during his service in Osterath. His vision transformed personal trauma into the creation of a pilgrimage space within his new parish in Willich.
The chapel's early 16th-century crucifix group stands as a focal point in the upper space, inviting visitors to pause before its carved figures. This artwork reflects the type of religious sculpture that shaped devotional spaces across the region during that era.
The chapel is accessible during the second Sunday of each month in the afternoon, with signage posted from the nearby highway exit. Planning ahead helps ensure you arrive during open hours and can follow the posted directional guidance.
Three concentric hedges surround the building, mirroring the traditional column arrangement within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This landscape design lets visitors experience the pilgrimage structure on a local scale.
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