Next exit: God
In Germany, highway churches offer refueling for the soul.
Rest and contemplation
A long drive on the highway often means stress - even more so on the German autobahn where there's often no speed limit. So shifting down and finding a bit of peace and quiet - that's what the roughly 40 highway churches across the country have on offer.
Street art
Some 300,000 travellers per year stop at the highway church St. Christopherus near Baden-Baden. The pyramid-shaped building, built in 1978, attracks visitors also because of it's architecture and the design by artist Emil Wachter. And it's not only for the highway; the local community also uses the church for religious services.
Long tradition
As early as in the Middle Ages people built places of worship along their travel routes. Crosses or little chapels can still be found along the highways of yore. Today these routes are often footpaths and hiking trails, like in the case of the Wörmedsöd chapel in Austria.
Old rivalry
One of the oldest highway churches is in Exter, between Bielefeld and Hanover. Built in 1666, it becaume a highway church in 1959 when the Protestant state church wanted to establish an equivalent to the rival Catholic highway church set up in Adelried in Bavaria. Along with the church, there's also a rest stop and a playground in Exter.
Wearing many hats
The Exter church often had to reinvent itsef: After more than 500 years as a traditional church and more than 50 years as a highway church, there are now even services for policemen, firement and EMT workers.
Writing on the wall
The invitation is to come in welcomes travelers in large letters. Each year there are more than 30,000 people who do come in and use Exter to take a break.
Sleek design
The Bochum highway church can be found in the middle of Germany's industrial hearland. Once again, it was originally used as a traditional communty church until it was reassigned for a highway. The architecture is minimalist Bauhaus, but the interior is bright and the colorful windows invite the sunshine in.
Link to heaven
The highway church in Medenbach near Frankfurt is also bathed in sunlight. The glass roof opens up to sky, clouds, sun, moon or stars - depending on what time of day or night you choose to pull over.
Modern cube
Architectual beauty is not necessarily what you expect to find in a highway church. The Emmaus church near Stuttgart for is a simple cube with a glass front. Even from far away you can spot the huge cross at the entrance. The yard in front is sealed off by a wall to keep out the noise from cars and trucks rolling past.
Experimental design
Germany's latest highway church looks a bit like a spaceship. Finished in May 2013, the Siegerland church was built - like many other examples - with money coming from private donors.