Rope ladder in the monastery church: art or danger for visitors?

Rope ladder in the monastery church: art or danger for visitors?

Today, October 25, 2025, an eye-catching art project in the Bordesholm monastery church is attracting everyone's attention. A 14 meter high rope ladder in bright red, yellow and blue hangs right next to the impressive altar from 1727, which presents the story of Christ's baptism and the Last Supper. This combination of old and new, of tradition and innovation, is created by kn online highlighted in an exciting article.

The monastery church itself is a true architectural jewel from 1330 and is considered an important architectural monument in Schleswig-Holstein. It was originally part of the Augustinian Canons' Monastery, which was founded in 1127 by Vizelin, like the Wikipedia informed. The monastery has a long and eventful history, was an important center of religious and cultural development in the region and was finally secularized in 1566.

Ekkehart Kaschel's artwork

Artist Ekkehart Kaschel from Flensburg is the creative mind behind this installation. The rope ladder is made of 10 kilograms of special wool, PVC pipes and sewn rungs. The color scheme was deliberately coordinated with the altar, creating a harmonious connection between art and sacred space. The inspiration for the artwork comes from Jacob's biblical dream of a ladder to heaven and is intended to create an interaction with the handwritten psalms in the chancel. It took Kaschel a full twelve years to write these psalms; they were drawn on handmade paper with black colored pencil.

With the rope ladder and the psalms, the monastery church offers a unique space for visitors who can immerse themselves in a spiritual and artistic world. All guests are asked not to climb or touch the ladder to maintain the integrity of the artwork.

Important events in the monastery church

The exhibition with the rope ladder will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the end of November and promises a special experience. Highlights include:

• 9. November: Geistliche Chormusik um 17 Uhr
• 19. November: Künstler spricht über sein Werk um 17 Uhr
• 30. November: Abschlussgottesdienst um 10.30 Uhr

The Schleswig-Holstein monastery project, which also includes the Bordesholm monastery church, is dedicated to documenting monasteries and their influence on the history of the region. It becomes clear how important such institutions were for cultural development and Christianization. As already mentioned, the Bordesholm monastery church has not only architectural but also historical and cultural weight, and it is complemented by other projects exploring monastic institutions, such as this Monastery project shows.

Take the chance to immerse yourself in this extraordinary cultural heritage not only through art, but also through history - an experience you certainly don't want to miss!