Brandenburg, as well as the rest of the world, is all
about the people and what they make of the area they live in. As soon as I am
on my way back to Berlin from the countryside of Brandenburg, I am full of
energy. The wish to see more of the region grows with every visit. Most places
in Brandenburg have this off the beaten track feel and are a bit on the wild
side. Brandenburg has got the size of the Kingdom of Belgium but whereas there
are 4 times more people in that country, there is a lot of space and emptiness
in Brandenburg.
If you jump on a train at Berlin central station you are
going to be in Chorin only 45 minutes later. The town in the district of Barnim in Brandenburg is bounded by Poland,
Maerkisch-Oderland, Berlin and the Uckermark. Chorin is the home of
a Cistercian Abbey founded in 1258. The abbey is a true icon of German gothic
architecture. The intricate ornamentation of the famous domes
in Cologne, Paris and Siena were the role models and the inspiration for the
architects of this structure and were implemented wonderfully. The design
process, the stone-manufacturing and planning became a fundamental part of the
everyday life of the monks. Today we would most certainly call them
project-managers. The marvellous west façade alone is worth the trip to Chorin.
When you walk around, take a close look at the elaborate stone friezes and
animal motifs and detailed vault consoles that decorate the building.
Uncomfortable and hectic: Chorin Abbey - Eat. Pray. Work
There is so much to discover. I am again and again
astonished about conditions people had to live under in medieval times. Imagine
how cold and freezing life in this abbey must have been for the monks who lived
here long before the introduction of central heating. Today people usually
start freezing heavily while waiting for the next bus ... cosily decked out in
winter clothes. Life was uncomfortable and hectic, how they got through this
without a burn-out we will never know. Visitors can see where the monks worked
together in the fields, and visit the refectories where they ate together. From
one room you can see where they went upstairs to the large sleeping halls on
the upper floor. How on earth did the monks find the time to also pray together
for seven hours a day, and also once during the night?
From abbey to event space
After its secularization in 1542, the monks left the abbey
and the property was most often used as a private home. In the 19th century,
when people saw the importance of its style it became heritage listed. At the
beginning of the 20th century, before the two wars started, this area was a
popular destination for visitors. Restoration works were discussed and realised.
There was still so much to do to bring it back to its former glory. In 1964
they started to hold the “Chorin Music Summer“ and the “Chorin Opera summer“
here. After the fall of the wall the process to restore this property began,
and today the abbey is used as an event space and museum.
Beavers love the Amtssee
The abbey is located within the UNESCO-protected Biosphere Reserve Schorfheide-Chorin, established
in 1990. When I went for a walk in the woods and along lake “Amtssee“ near the abbey I saw a few felled trees and also noticed that somebody
already chewed on many more. I started to wonder about this, and soon found the
answer to my question in the form of a beaver lodge. Beavers were near
extinction, and that only 25 years ago.
The main cause was hunting for their
fur, meat and their castoreum and also a loss of habitat. The rodents love to
spend their time along streams and rivers, and in small lakes, as long as there
are lots of trees. Beavers create wetlands and with that provide habitat for so
many other species. But there are already people complaining about them since
beavers destroy trees, and also change the water flow of streams, and that can
cause flooding. Beavers are protected by law and today there are 2,300 beavers
in Brandenburg. And believe it or not, experts say that 25 beavers even call
Berlin home.
Info Chorin Abbey
How to get to Chorin. Public
transport: Take the Regional Express (RE in short) from Berlin Central station.
The journey takes approx. 45 minutes. It is a 1.5 km walk from the station. Car:
Roughly 1 hour for the 80 kilometres from Alexanderplatz in Berlin Mitte.
Chlorin Abbey. Amt Chorin 11a, 16230 Chorin
Chlorin Abbey. Amt Chorin 11a, 16230 Chorin
Opening hours. April to
September, 9 am to 6 pm. October to March, 10 am to 4 pm. Closed on 24th
and 31st December.
Tickets. Adults
EUR 4. Children older than 7 years EUR 2.50.
Food.
There
is an organic café on the grounds of the Abbey and it sells snacks, hot soups,
freshly made cake, coffee and tea. And there is ice cream: choose between
vanilla, chocolate and mango. If it is warm enough sit under the big trees in
front of the café.
Events.
There are also different cultural activities on offer, like fairs, Christmas events, workshops and lectures.
Please check their calendar for more info.
Verdict Chorin Abbey
No matter if you are a history buff, an architecture fan,
a conservationist, a hiker, a foodie or all of the aforementioned, go and see
this for yourself and please don't forget to let me know what you think.
From Berlin with love