The Cistercians are a truly European order that has spread across many countries since the Middle Ages and still shapes the cultural landscapes in many places today. The new project “Culinary Heritage of the Cistercians in Central Europe”, whose project managers from the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria met for the kick-off meeting on March 10 in Vyšší Brod in the Czech Republic, is also pursuing this European approach. The research into old monastic recipes and local traditions, supervised by the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, will begin in spring.

Around ten participating monasteries, including those from the Cisterscapes network, which is currently applying for the European Heritage Label, are actively involved with their monastery archives and libraries. The following questions will be answered: To what extent can regional specialties be traced back to monastic origins? What was typical of the monks’ table culture? What forgotten culinary treasures can perhaps still be unearthed?

We are very much looking forward to the new project!