Wallfahrtskapelle Maria Mutter Europas Gnadenweiler, Pilgrimage chapel in Bärenthal, Germany
Wallfahrtskapelle Maria Mutter Europas Gnadenweiler is a pilgrimage chapel in Bärenthal, Germany, with a copper roof shaped like a rainbow arc. The structure is built mainly from wood and stone, and the roof rests on twelve beams that represent the twelve tribes of Israel.
The chapel was consecrated on June 9, 2007, by Bishop Viktor Josef Dammertz OSB of Augsburg. The initiative came from Father Notker Hiegl, a monk from the Beuron monastery, who drove the project from the start.
Inside, a baroque Madonna figure from 1750 serves as the focal point of the prayer space. Twelve chairs arranged in pairs refer to the twelve apostles and give the room a simple, welcoming order.
Before visiting, checking the website www.maria-mutter-europas.de is a good way to find out about current opening times and any planned events. The chapel sits in a rural setting, so arriving by car is generally the most practical option.
Instead of a cross or a spire, the tower carries a metal hand raised in a pleading gesture. This detail makes the building immediately recognizable as something different from a conventional place of worship.
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