EHL Plaque celebrate the Cistercian Legacy of Wągrowiec and Łekno
Two new EHL plaques unveiled!
On 17 June 2025, a landmark celebration took place in Wągrowiec and Łekno, Poland, to recognise the region’s significant Cistercian cultural heritage. Under the motto “Cistercian heritage as a way to the future of Europe,” the event highlighted the role of local communities in safeguarding and promoting shared European values.
Two plaques were ceremoniously unveiled to commemorate the award of the European Heritage Label to the Łekno/Wągrowiec Cistercian cultural landscape. The plaque at the Wągrowiec Rural Commune Office was revealed by Dr Małgorzata Chmielarz, Mayor of the Rural Commune, alongside Alexandra Baier, coordinator of the Cisterscapes – Landscapes Connecting Europe project, representing the District Governor of Bamberg County. A second plaque, located at the Regional Museum in Wągrowiec, was unveiled by Wągrowiec Mayor Alicja Trytt and District Governor Tomasz Kranc.
Highlights of the event
The celebration featured engaging speeches from leading heritage professionals. Dr Iwona Liżewska and Tomasz Błyskosz of the National Heritage Institute delivered a keynote titled “DoM – Heritage Beside Me: On heritage management in municipalities.” Regional historian Marcin Moeglich added local depth with his contributions from the Wągrowiec museum.
Participants also joined a panel discussion and a guided study tour through emblematic Cistercian sites, including the former monastery in Wągrowiec, the Church of St Nicholas the Bishop in Tarnowo Pałuckie, and the archaeological site Ł3.
The day concluded with a visit to the Environmental Education Centre in Bracholin, where guests enjoyed regional delicacies prepared by the Country Housewives Association and explored the Bracholin Ostoja nature reserve, narrated by Violetta Łochowicz.
The event took place under the patronage of the Minister for European Union Affairs during Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2025. It was also supported by the Governor of Wielkopolska, the State Archive in Poznań, the District Governor of Wągrowiec, and the National Heritage Institute.
