Participants of the Run for Heritage holding their certificates. Photo: Wernigerode Tourismus GmbH
The Run for Heritage campaign arrived in Germany for the first time last week with an activity organised in collaboration with Harzer Monasteries, the department of the Harz Tourist Association which is responsible for the management and revitalisation of the monasteries in Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.
On this occasion, the Run for Heritage took a group of 40 children from the 3rd and 4th grades of the Evangelical Primary School in Ilsenburg (Germany) on a pilgrimage from Ilsenburg to Drübeck to discover the monastic heritage of the Harz region in a playful way.
The activity was made possible by the support of of Drübeck Monastery, Ilsenburg Monastery, the city of Ilsenburg and its Tourism Department and FRH member Klosterland e.V..
A 3,5km pilgrimage between Ilsenburg and Drübeck
“Bishop Buko” welcomes participants at the Ilsenburg Monastery. Photo: Wernigerode Tourismus GmbH
The day began at the gate of the Ilsenburg monastery, where the participants were welcomed by the mayor of Ilsenburg, Dennis Loeffke, who stepped into the role of the venerable “Bishop Buko”.
The first activity of the day was a quiz on monastic life, with questions such as how many times a day monks were allowed to eat. Following the quiz, participants were challenged to remain silent for five minutes, becoming familiar with the vow of silence that was part of daily life in the monastery.
After a quick monastic breakfast, Jens Friedrich and Melanie Krilleke took the lead of the group to walk the 3.5 km trail from the Ilsenburg monastery to the Drübeck monastery. Along the way, the children collected “wish stones“, which they gathered in the garden of the Drübeck Monastery while receiving a blessing for having completed their pilgrimage.
The monastic kitchen of Drübeck rewarded the participants with a delicious meal of pasta and tomatoes picked from the monastery’s own garden.
At the end of the activity, participants received a pilgrim’s bag, a pin of the monastic trail and their “Run for Heritage” certificate.
See the photos
Reception at the monastery church of Ilsenburg. Photo: Wernigerode Tourismus GmbH
Candles for the trail. Photo: M.Krilleke
Children lighting their candles at the end of pilgrimage. Photo: M.Krilleke
Start of the monastic pilgrimage trail in Ilsenburg. Photo: Wernigerode Tourismus GmbH
The “wish stones” are placed together at Drübeck Monastery. Photo: Drübeck Monastery
Children waiting for their certificates at Drübeck Monastery. Photo: Drübeck Monastery
Children at the monastery garden in Drübeck. Photo: M. Krilleke
“Taken by the children of the 4th grade of the Evangelical Primary School Ilsenburg on their first children’s pilgrimage from the Ilsenburg Monastery to the Drubeck Monastery on 29 June 2023”
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