World Heritage Sites host guided tours and musical events in celebration. - Heritage Sites Globally Honor Anniversary with Guided Excursions and Performances
Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland Celebrate UNESCO World Heritage Day with Guided Tours and Concerts
On Sunday, June 1, UNESCO World Heritage Day returns, and several sites in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland are joining the celebrations under the theme "Communicate, connect, inspire."
In Saarland, the Völklingen Ironworks will open its doors, offering a blend of industry, culture, history, art, and nature. Highlights include an art trail, children's guided tours, an epoch-spanning journey, and a sound walk. On Sunday, the guided tours cost five euros, and the exhibition in the blast furnace hall "The True Size of Africa" is offered at a reduced rate of nine euros.
Three Rhineland-Palatinate sites, collectively known as the Schum sites, also welcome visitors to free guided tours. These include Speyer, Worms, and Mainz. In Worms, visitors can explore the Jewish Museum Raschi-Haus or learn about the Schum community's history and significance through 14th-century original sources. Speyer offers musical performances from the group "Klezmers Techter" and the choir of the Jewish cultural community, while the cathedral hosts a short concert "Fascination of the Cathedral Organ." Guided tours, such as those in the "Beith Shalom" synagogue, the cathedral, and the Schum community center, cost between zero and 15 euros. Families with children can participate in a rally where children receive keychains at the end.
The name Schum sites is a reference to the Hebrew initials Shin (sh) for Spira (Speyer), Waw (u) for Warmaisa (Worms), and Mem (m) for Magenza (Mainz), representing the three cities that were centers of Jewish learning in the Middle Ages. Mainz also offers free guided tours on the Old Jewish Cemetery "Judensand." It is one of the oldest and largest medieval Jewish cemeteries in Europe, providing information about personalities buried there in the Middle Ages, the meaning of gravestone symbols, and burial and mourning rituals. All male participants must wear a head covering during the tour.
Bingen in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley promises an exciting program with a unique Rhine river backdrop. Events include a Father Rhine discovery tour, Roman medical equipment demonstrations, a historical crane demonstration at the harbor, and a walk through history at the park by the Mouse Tower. All events are free.
Trier, Germany's oldest city, also marks the 20th UNESCO World Heritage Day. With an audio walk, guests can follow in the footsteps of Roman history and the buildings of Trier. Families can participate in a rally to solve tricky questions and explore the historic monument at the Porta Nigra.
UNESCOSundaySpeyerWormsMainzSaarlandRhineland-PalatinateRhineWorld Heritage SiteChildrenTrierBingenVölklingen
For precise information on World Heritage Day activities, it's advisable to contact local tourism boards or event organizers in these regions.
On this UNESCO World Heritage Day, the Schum sites in Rhineland-Palatinate, particularly in Speyer and Worms, invite you to immerse in the rich history of Jewish learning, with guided tours, musical performances, and interactive activities for children. Meanwhile, Saarland's Völklingen Ironworks offers a unique fusion of art, culture, history, and nature, promising an educational yet entertaining day out for all ages.
