The international application for the European Cultural Heritage seal of the Sisterscape project “Cistercian landscapes connecting Europe” led by the district of Bamberg as sponsor and initiator was submitted on 23 November to the Minister of State Bernd Siebler, the Bavarian State Ministry for Science and the Arts Was.
Official handover of the application for the European Heritage Label by Minister of State Bernd Siebler, for the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts, from left to right: Alexandra Baier (project leader “Sisterscapes” – European Heritage Label), Dr. Thomas Butner (Scientific Advisory Board), Minister of State Bernd Siebler (Bavarian State Ministry for Science and Art), Holger Dremel (MDL), District Administrator Johann Kalb (District Bamberg). Photo: StMWK, A.König
Arts Minister Bernd Sibler emphasized: “I am very happy about this application, as the Sisterscape project is truly unique. Never before have so many sites in different countries come together to make their shared cultural heritage visible in an international project.” This application shows that we are united by our common European cultural heritage. In times of Euro-skepticism or even European hostility, it is especially important to reveal the importance of Europe and its fundamental values This is what the cultural heritage label does by facilitating access to European cultural heritage and promoting intercultural dialogue. I therefore thank all the district of Bamberg and above all the State Office for Monument Protection, all those involved for their great commitment I want to thank
With all 17 partner sites, the project is underway for the European Heritage label “Sisterscapes – Cistercian landscapes connecting Europe”. On November 23, District Administrator Johann Kalb, along with representatives from the Scientific Advisory Board and the Sisterscape project team, personally submitted a 500-page application to Minister of State Bernd Siebler. In addition, the Minister of State received a loaf of bread in the form of a sisterscape rosette, along with a gift basket with special features from the landscape of the participating monastery, which was specially baked for appointment by Ebrach Prison Bakery. Was.
However, the application still has a long way to go before a final decision on whether the Cistercian landscape will receive the seal. The Bavarian State Ministry for Science and the Arts will forward this to the Permanent Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) on 30 November. There a comprehensive review and evaluation is done by a committee of experts. On this basis, the KMK will decide by early 2023 whether to include “Sisterscape” in the national election. In the event of an affirmative decision and submission to the EU Commission as an international site, the application will be examined in detail by a European jury, and final confirmation will be given by the European Commission.
On the handover, District Administrator Johann Kalb emphasized once again: “Our most important task is to connect Europe, and we have been committed to this with our partners across borders since 2018. Work on the largest international application in SEAL’s history . has now become the first successfully launched move”.
In addition to the European dimension, the EU attaches great importance to awareness raising, communication and exchange as well as networking. And it closes the circle on the importance of the Cistercian order, as it stands for the European networking of an efficiently operating union since its founding in 1098. The order successfully spread throughout Europe, starting with the Mother Monastery of Cytox and its four primary abbeys. The first to be founded on the right bank of the Rhine by Morimond was Zisterz Ebrach, whose historical cultural landscape today spans the five districts of Haasberg, Kitzingen, Lichtenfels, Neustadt/Ashe and Schweinfurt.
A final response from the European Commission on whether the application is crowned with success will not be given until early 2024.
Joint international cooperation projects have been implemented since 2019, until the award of the seal in 2024, which includes, among other things, the concept of the “Path of the Cistercians”, a European long-distance hiking trail funded by the Leader Fund . “Planned measures also directly contribute to the strengthening of rural areas, the course for the coming years is already being set”, concluded district administrator Johann Kalb.
In the future, it aims to convey the entire Ebrach Monastery landscape in its diversity to interested people at home and abroad, starting from the main town of Ebrach. The “outposts” that were “Abrachian” until 1803, are to be used more intensively: first and foremost the locations of official courts in Oberschwapach, Bergwindheim, Mainstockheim or Sulzheim, but also distinctive landscape elements such as old streets, vineyard terraces. are also. series of ponds and much more. There are many traces of monastic stamping, they are to be discovered and experienced. The EKS award means sustainable tourism and thus economic value added to all the sectors involved.
The project “Sisterscapes – Cistercian landscapes connecting Europe” to prepare the application and evaluation of the monastery’s landscape was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forest and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) by the Sparksey Bamberg Foundation has been done. Promoting the conservation of art, culture and monuments, the Upper Franconia Foundation as well as the Archdiocese of Bamberg, the Diocese of Würzburg and the Bavarian State Office for the Protection of Monuments. Funds for the cooperation come from the associate districts of Haasberge, Kitzingen, Lichtenfels, Neustadt/Eich, Schweinfurt and Tirschenreth, as well as the cities of Lichtenfels and Waldsachsen. Information about the project under www.cistersscapes.eu
