A community outing in a hidden Oasis in Cologne
The Garden of Religions may look simple at first glance, but it’s one of Cologne’s most meaningful spaces. Whether you’re religious, spiritual, or simply curious, this garden invites you to slow down, listen, and connect — with others, with yourself, and with the world’s shared values. This garden isn’t a museum or tourist attraction in the usual sense.
Instead, it’s a space for interfaith dialogue, reflection, and community.
What makes it special is its simplicity. There are no explanatory signs or boards. Instead, visitors are encouraged to explore, experience, and share their own interpretations. It’s a unique space where religion becomes dialogue, and where visitors leave inspired, thoughtful, and perhaps even changed.
Exploring the Five Interfaith Symbols
The garden is built around five symbolic installations, each designed to invite discussion.
- The Bell
Visitors begin by striking a large bell with a mallet. Some think of church bells, others of Buddhist or Hindu gongs, and some recall improvised bells used in Africa. One sound — many meanings.
- The Game of Life
A giant target on the ground challenges participants to roll wooden balls toward the center. Because the balls are uneven, they rarely go straight. The game sparks conversation about life’s struggles, persistence, and the lessons of failure.
- The Sundial
Using stone pillars and slabs, the sundial works with a person’s shadow. When the group visited in June, the shadow pointed to 11 a.m. while it was actually noon — a reminder that natural time doesn’t follow human adjustments.
- The Desert
A stony “desert” recalls the spiritual trials shared across religions — solitude, testing, and inner journeys.
- The Fountain
Beside the desert, water flows from a stone fountain. For Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists alike, water symbolizes renewal, purity, and life itself.
The Great Religions Represented
Alongside the interfaith installations, the garden also honors the world’s major religions through their traditional symbols:
- Christianity: the cross
- Judaism: the Star of David
- Islam: the crescent moon and star
- Buddhism: the eight-spoked wheel
- Hinduism: the Om symbol
Next to each emblem lies a stone engraved with a guiding value: Relationship, Respect, Faithfulness, Serenity, Diversity.
These words highlight what unites faiths rather than what separates them.
