Libraries as places of European history in EHL Call for Projects’24-Awarded Project

Digital discoveries in the monastery landscape

The digital monastery landscape map now offers even more to explore. Alongside the spiritual heart of Waldsassen Monastery, visitors can discover the Fischhof in Tirschenreuth, recreated as a 3D model. Once the secular centre of the Stiftland, the Fischhof was central to pond farming and later served as the abbey’s Baroque summer residence.

Another addition is the Waldnaab breakthrough, a remarkable feat of medieval hydraulic engineering, now presented as a smaller model within the map.

Shared narratives between Waldsassen and Kynžvart

In a joint programme, both EHL sites – Cisterscapes-Waldsassen and Kynžvart Castle –welcomed visitors to explore why their sites hold European significance. In Kynžvart, the focus was on Metternich’s vision of European security and peace, while in Waldsassen the spotlight was on the European idea of Cistercian abbot Bernard of Clairvaux.

The programme also addressed how to make cultural heritage more engaging for young people. Through workshops on storytelling methods and social media content creation, participants explored questions such as: What would Metternich think about current European developments? or Who might Bernard of Clairvaux connect with today to expand his European network?

The exchange between German and Czech tour guides continued over joint lunches, inspiring future guided tours that link both sites and highlight their shared European narratives.

Bringing European heritage to young audiences

One of the project’s core ambitions is to make libraries meaningful to young people aged 10–16 in both Germany and the Czech Republic. While these sites traditionally attract adults interested in culture, young visitors often remain unaware of how much their histories connect to present-day life.

To change this, Waldsassen and Kynžvart have developed a youth programme with age-appropriate booklets and transnational project days, encouraging participants to discover the legacies of Bernhard von Clairvaux and Prince Metternich. The libraries of both sites serve as gateways into this shared European story.