Pupils from the girls’ secondary school at the Cistercian abbey in Waldsassen and from Dolní Žandov quickly got to know each other during the project day in Waldsassen. After a short introduction in the former refectory of the Cistercian monks, which was particularly impressive for the Czech guests, the 50 or so young people visited the abbey library. Many of the Waldsassen pupils were there for the first time. With the help of the booklet created especially for the project, the pupils worked in mixed German-Czech groups on the depiction of vices in the atlases created by Karl Stilp. They quickly came into contact with each other and discovered that the same bad habits make interpersonal contact difficult both here and on the other side of the border.

This was followed by a discussion about Europe and the European Heritage Label. Here it became clear that international exchange is important to the young people despite their ties to their home country. The example of the Cistercian order and, in particular, Bernard of Clairvaux was used to show how European networking can work.

The extent to which the young people had already networked was demonstrated during lunch together in St. Joseph’s and the interactive games in the afternoon. The short visit to the collegiate basilica was an extra highlight for the Czech guests.

In the end, it was difficult to say goodbye to each other. The anticipation of seeing each other again at Königswart Castle is all the greater on both sides.

 

The project

Libraries as places of European history: Waldsassen – Library of the Cistercians and Königswart Castle – Library of Prince Klemens Metternich

is co-financed by the European Union and GOPA PACE.