Ever wondered what secrets lie hidden beneath the roar of airplanes? Right here at the Erinnerungsstätte Kartäuserkloster Statue in Düsseldorf, a tale of silence and solitude unfolds. This is a memorial site for the former Kartäuserkloster Maria Hain. Let’s step back in time.
In 1869, the Kartäuser monks purchased Rittergut Hain. They sought a place of peace. Two choir monks and two lay brothers came from La Grande Chartreuse to settle here. They established a new charterhouse. By 1920, the community had grown. It included twenty choir monks and five lay brothers.
The monastery remarkably survived the Nazi era unscathed. Their assistance to the poor was valued. However, Düsseldorf’s expansion threatened their tranquility. The growing airport at Lohausen disrupted the Carthusian’s required silence.
In 1964, the monks moved to Marienau. This was near Bad Wurzach in Baden-Württemberg. The Kloster Hain was deconsecrated. Then it was demolished. The monks’ remains were reinterred in Marienau. Today, Flughafen buildings stand where the monastery once stood.
But the story doesn’t end with the monastery’s disappearance. In 1994, a memorial was erected. It stands near the former Kartause in the Kartäuser Park. The Erinnerungsstätte Kartäuserkloster Statue consists of two important parts. A 2.20-meter bronze statue of a Carthusian monk is the centerpiece. It was crafted by Düsseldorf sculptor Karl-Heinz Klein. Next to the statue is a model of the former Kartause.
The Bürgerverein Unterrath 1909 and Lichtenbroich helped to create this place. They sought to honor the monks’ contributions. The memorial reminds us of the monks’ kindness to the needy.
Few Düsseldorfers know the monastery’s exact location. Even fewer know the extent of the lands owned by the Kartäuser. The monastery was surrounded by ten thousand oak trees. There were also orchards, vegetable gardens, and bushes.
Today, the Erinnerungsstätte Kartäuserkloster Statue stands as a reminder. It honors a place of silence. It acknowledges a community that valued solitude and service. As you stand here, consider the echoes of monastic life. Think about their impact on Düsseldorf. The roar of the airport overhead serves as a stark contrast. It highlights the peace they once cherished. This small memorial tells a big story. It speaks of faith. It speaks of community. It speaks of change.