Maternus Chapel Bechen

The small chapel is located in the district of St. Maternus Eck, formerly "Schnappe", at the junction of today's B 506 and the historic trade route leading via Pohl and Neuensaal towards Wipperfürth and further into the Oberberg region.


The first documented mention of the chapel was in 1673 in the tithe register of the Bechen parish priest Neu, which listed the fees paid by the inhabitants to the church for its special services, such as "the procession to the chapel in Schnappe". In the description of hunting rights from February 17, 1653, the "Schlagbaum" in Schnappe appears as a landmark, but not yet the chapel. After overcoming the Thirty Years' War, the epidemics (Pastor Heußgen died of the plague in 1631) and the times of need far beyond that (in 1666 and 67 the "red dysentery" was rampant with many deaths), it can therefore be assumed that the survivors probably built the chapel immediately afterwards.

The chapel was dedicated to St. Maternus, patron saint for the prevention of epidemics and all kinds of diseases in humans and livestock. He is the first documented bishop of Cologne (285 - 328) and represented the cause of the Germans at the councils in Rome and Arles. Services are still held in the chapel on his name day (diocese of Cologne September 11) and on special occasions.

The chapel is built of quarrystone, which was smoothed with a levelling coat of mud. It has a cantilevered gable roof and a ridge turret. The small bell was delivered in 1917 for military purposes, a new bell was cast in 1929 and escaped being melted down for the Second World War.

Clean drinking water is essential to prevent disease. Directly to the right of the chapel is an 8 m deep well, formerly protected with a well house, door and conical roof. The water is so clean that it is said to have healing properties. The reason for building a publicly accessible fountain here is historical, as there was an inn with a horse changing station directly opposite the chapel until the end of the 19th century. Wagon drivers on the Cologne - Wipperfürth trade route would stop here and draw water for their animals themselves before treating themselves to food and drink at the inn.

The Maternus Chapel has been a listed building since 2016 (monument no.: 126)