Honingser Kapellenfest

A Chapel Built by the Community

Anyone wandering through the hilly foothills of Franconian Switzerland will encounter a remarkable chapel in the small hamlet of Honings – a district of the municipality of Hetzles in the Forchheim district: "Unsere liebe Frau vom Rosenkranz" (Our Lady of the Rosary). It was consecrated in 1995 after five years of construction – entirely financed and largely self-built by a specially founded chapel construction association, today's Christlicher Kapellenförderverein Honings e.V. The annual Kapellenfest is the most important event for this association and, at the same time, a living testament to the bond the people of Honings have with their Marienkapelle.

Pentecost Monday as a Traditional Festival Day

The Kapellenfest traditionally takes place on Pentecost Monday – a major Marian feast day, which is particularly fitting for a Marian chapel. The day opens with a solemn festive mass in front of the chapel, accompanied musically by a local ensemble. Afterwards, it seamlessly transitions into the Frühschoppen, which lasts until the afternoon.

Frühschoppen, Barbecue, and Küchla

The Kapellenförderverein and local helpers provide the catering. On the menu: steaks and sausages from the charcoal grill, homemade cakes and pastries, the women of the association bake Franconian "Küchla" (a type of yeast dough fritter) all night long, and of course, there is Franconian beer as well as coffee, juices, and soft drinks. Guests sit at beer tables in the shade of the old linden trees around the chapel.

Hetzleser Berg and Franconian Switzerland

Honings is located on the Hetzleser Berg, one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the foothills of Franconian Switzerland. On a clear day, the view extends far beyond Erlangen and Forchheim to the Steigerwald foothills. The Kapellenfest is therefore also a popular hiking destination: many guests combine their visit with a tour of the Hetzleser Berg or a stop at the neighboring village of Hetzles. The municipality of Hetzles belongs to the Forchheim district in the Upper Franconia administrative region.

A Festival Supported by the Village Community

With about 150 inhabitants, Honings is a tiny hamlet – yet the Kapellenfest attracts guests from Hetzles, Igensdorf, Neunkirchen am Brand, and the surrounding area. The proceeds go entirely to the maintenance and care of the chapel. The festival is thus not only a social event but also an essential contribution to the preservation of a small, very personal sacred building.