For two weeks, international participants worked on preserving the historic defensive wall of the Cistercian Abbey of Rein. As part of a European Heritage Training Course, they learned traditional masonry techniques and applied them directly to the centuries-old masonry. <\/p>\n
The defensive wall dates back to the 15th century. Weathering and age had left clear marks: plaster and individual stones were coming loose, and parts of the masonry were in danger of further deterioration. Under the expert guidance of restorer and craftsman Peter Meder from the Reiner Handwerk association, a selected section was carefully restored. <\/p>\n
To begin with, the participants carefully removed damaged and loose sections. The original stones were secured, inspected, and prepared for later reinstallation. The masonry was then rebuilt using materials and techniques compatible with the historic structure. <\/p>\n
The focus was on working with lime mortar. To this end, the participants also learned about the craft of slaking lime, which is rarely taught today. In this process, quicklime is mixed with water. The chemical reaction causes the mixture to generate intense heat, hissing and bubbling. The slaked lime is then placed in a lime pit and stored. It forms the basis for a mortar that, due to its properties, is suitable for historic masonry. <\/p>\n
The secured original stones were carefully reinserted into the masonry using lime mortar. The key factors here were not only the visible wall surfaces, but also a stable internal structure, properly aligned joints, and careful handling of the existing material. In this way, another section of the defensive wall was stabilized without losing its historical character. <\/p>\n
The hands-on work was supplemented by instruction on historical building materials, masonry techniques, and historic preservation. The participants came from the United States, Mexico, Australia, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, Estonia, Germany, Spain, Romania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. During their stay, they lived at Rein Abbey. <\/p>\n\n\t\t