St. Mary's Chapel

The "Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother" is one of the oldest places of pilgrimage in the Archdiocese of Cologne and is a landmark of Monheim am Rhein that’s visible from afar.

From a wayside shrine to a late Gothic chapel

In the Middle Ages, boatmen attributed miraculous significance to the unique location on the Rhine and the special current at this spot. This is why, in honor of Mary, people erected a little shrine with an image of her in the 12th century. In 1418, Rhine boatmen built a wooden chapel, which was replaced by a late Gothic chapel made of stone in 1514.

Architecture and furnishings

The chapel is a single-nave brick building with ribbed vaults and a three-sided chancel.
One special feature of the chapel is the image of the Sorrowful Mother, the Pieta. It is a 46 centimeter tall figure of Mary with her dead son, who has been taken down from the cross, on her lap. Since the Middle Ages, countless pilgrims have flocked here by land and sea.

Mon-Chronik location

Inside the church, a beautiful manuscript designed like an antiquarian book tells the story of St. Mary’s Chapel.

St. Mary's Chapel is temporarily closed due to construction work.

Marienkapelle

An d'r Kapell
40789 Monheim am Rhein

Our Mon-Chronik sites

The 26 meter high Schelmenturm, or Rogue’s Tower, is the stately landmark of Monheim and the last part of a fortification built around 1425 to protect the "Freiheit Monheim".

With the historic eel fishing boat called "Fiat Voluntas", the city has landed a "real contemporary witness" for you, one which inspires its guests as an interactive museum.

In the heart of the Urdenbacher Kämpe Nature Reserve, the former Roman fort at HausBürgel is just waiting for you to discover and explore it. The Roman Museum vividly tells visitors about thelife of the soldiers once stationed here, and outside, you can even smell real plants of late antiquity.

Carnival all year round! The citizens of Monheim live and love their foolish goings-on. With the Carnival Museum in the heart of the old part of town, this tradition also has a permanent place outside the so-called "fifth season".

Situated in a fairy-tale romantic setting, Marienburg Manor was built by the architect August Carl Lange around 1879 as a summer house for the lawyer and politician Eugen von Kesseler, both from Cologne. It was modelled on Marienburg Castle in Malbork, Poland – one of Monheim’s twin towns today.

The "Kradepohl," or "Krötenpfuhl" (“Toad Pond”) in High German, is one of the prettiest squares in the old part of town. Here, where once frogs croaked in a fire pond is where a "tradition tree" and a fountain now stand. Shady trees and plenty of benches invite visitors to sit down and linger a while. The square is also the site of the church in the historic center of town.

A must for literature fans: the eponymous writer grew up here in the Ulla Hahn House. Even as a child, Ulla Hahn discovered her love of language and found a retreat for writing in the old shed behind the house.

Looking ahead: A new Mon-Chronik site is planned in the christening chapel of St. Gereon, with an exciting exhibition about the pastor and resistance fighter Franz Boehm.

The goose from our city coat of arms comes alive and becomes an interactive city guide. The innovative Mon-Chronik app makes this possible and links all the important sites in the urban area.

The history of Monheim can be felt, seen and experienced in many places throughout the city. The Mon-Chronik, the decentralized city museum, links and presents our historical places and exciting tourist sights. Set off on the tour today!