The Stone Circle in Seefeld

It probably served as a place of worship even before Christian times. Christianity has repeatedly made use of such places of power, numerous churches, especially pilgrimage churches, were built over older sanctuaries. In Seefeld too, the parish church is close to the old place of worship. When the so-called Eucharistic miracle occurred on Maundy Thursday in 1376, Seefeld also became a destination for pilgrims and travelers. In 1516, Emperor Maximilian I endowed a monastery at this site, which has long since been abandoned. The former monastery church of St. Oswald is now the parish church of Seefeld.

There had long been the idea to give a new shape to the place of power on the Kirchbichl. The Seefeld architect Michael Prachensky developed a concept for a stone circle based on the model of the megalithic culture monuments, such as the famous Stonehenge. The stone circle is meant not only to make the energy of the place 'visible,' but also to be a meeting point and peaceful place of encounter for the world's religions. At the turn of the millennium, the realization of this ambitious project began, and on June 21, 2000, the day of the solstice, the stone circle was finally completed.

12 pillars form the circle, which is aligned with the star constellation from June 21, 2000. The pillars weigh up to 23 tons and simultaneously symbolize the 12 Apostles, which is why their names are also chiseled into the stones. The best way to reach the stone circle is via the Stations of the Cross, which begins at the parish church of St. Oswald and leads up the hill in a spiral. This newly designed Way of the Cross was opened in 2007. The XIV and last station of the Way of the Cross is located exactly in the center of the stone circle. Information boards on the Kirchbichl provide information about the design of the facility, its background, and the deep symbolism of the stone circle and the Way of the Cross.

By the way, the idea of a peaceful meeting place for the world's religions has developed tremendous dynamics: thousands of people of all religions have already visited this place, and the influx is still unabated.