Heavenly places: Discover NRW's forgotten churches on WDR!

Heavenly places: Discover NRW's forgotten churches on WDR!

A momentous step into the world of special places of worship will become visible from October 31st, when WDR publishes its new TV documentary entitled “Heavenly Places – Special Churches in North Rhine-Westphalia”. This exciting series highlights the history and architecture of small and often overlooked churches in North Rhine-Westphalia. The documentary will also be broadcast on WDR television from November 7th at 8:15 p.m., so that viewers can get a comprehensive insight into the diversity of these sacred spaces. The focus is on the extraordinary stories that lie behind these small houses of worship and their remarkable use.

A particularly notable aspect is, for example, the Church of St. Marien in Düsseldorf, which surprisingly originally served as a camouflage bunker during World War II, and the “Tiny Church,” a mobile church on wheels that travels through eastern Westphalia. Other highlights of the documentation include the Chapel of Grace in the Kevelaer pilgrimage site and other unique buildings that combine architecture and spirituality. During their research, the team from [kirche-und-leben.de](https://www.kirche-und-leben.de/artikel/medien-tv- Fernsehen-wdr-documentation-nordrhein-westfalen-nrw-kirchen-Bauen-sakralbau-gotteshaus) had to dig deep into the extraordinary stories of the churches and their use.

Churches in the Rhineland: A look at the city of Kirchen (Sieg)

The city of Kirchen (Sieg) in Rhineland-Palatinate is another example of a region characterized by history and special places. It is located in the Altenkirchen district, about 12 km southwest of Siegen on the picturesque Sieg River. Kirchen (Sieg), which has had city charter since November 6, 2004, is known for the striking Freusburg Castle and shows how closely history and development are intertwined.

An interesting anecdote about the political history of this city: In 1942, the communities of Kirchen and Wehbach were forcibly united by the Nazi government. The merger and renaming to Kirchen-Wehbach (Sieg) caused discontent among the Wehbach population, which lasted until the name was renamed in 1969. On June 7, 1969, the communities regained their original character and with it their identity. In addition to its historical significance, the city has also produced some notable personalities, including the racing driver Jürgen Alzen and the Catholic priest Georg Bätzing, who is Bishop of Limburg.

Invitation to explore

The WDR documentary invites you to discover the diversity and uniqueness of the churches in North Rhine-Westphalia and to get to know them from a new perspective. A good reason not to miss the broadcast and availability in the ARD media library. No matter whether you are interested in history, architecture or spiritual life, the churches in NRW offer something for everyone.

Anyone who is interested can prepare for a visual adventure that highlights not only the beauty of these spaces, but also the stories of their creation and social significance. Because as is so often the case, it is the look behind the scenes that allows us to experience the true fascination.