Day of Brick Gothic 2023

Day of Brick Gothic 2023

17.06.2023

June 17th is the Day of Brick Gothic

On this day, numerous members of the European Route of Brick Gothic invite the public to enjoy special events, fascinating tours and exclusive insights.

Participating cities in 2023 (the program is constantly updated)

Bad Doberan

11 am: Guided tour of the Minster
11 am: Tour “Children guiding children”
1 pm: Guided tour of the vaulted ceiling, tower and bells
2 pm: Guided tour of the Minster

The Doberan Minster is open from 10 am – 5 pm.

Buxtehude

11 am – 6 pm: Brick to touch in the Marschtorzwinger: At night all brick is gray…
On the Day of Brick Gothic, you can see how diverse brick can be. Bricks from different centuries invite you to touch, compare, wonder. Experience the development from hand-formed to machine-produced brick.
Meeting place: Marschtorzwinger Buxtehude, Westfleth, D-21614 Buxtehude

Exhibition in the Marschtorzwinger: “Little harbor tour” by Jakobus Durstewitz
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Friday from 3 – 6 pm
Saturday and Sunday from 11 am – 6 pm
More info at Exhibitions in Buxtehude

2 pm: Public guided tour: Brick Gothic in Buxtehude
In the Hanseatic city of Buxtehude there are several testimonies of Brick Gothic, which were built during the glorious Hanseatic period. Visible from afar is the St. Peter’s Church with a towering spire and a largely original interior design. In addition to viewing this church, the program also includes the town house in Lange Straße and the Marschtorzwinger. How can one imagine life in Buxtehude at this time, how was it built and what effect do these buildings still have today? Come with us on a tour through the old town of Buxtehude!
Duration: 90 minutes
Price: 7,00 € adults, 3,50 € children (until 16 years)
Meeting point: Old town hall (Historisches Rathaus), Breite Straße 2, D-21614 Buxtehude
Tickets: +49 4161 501 2345

Chełmno

We would like to invite you to a free sightseeing entitled A walk through Chełmno on the occasion of the European Day of Brick Gothic and important anniversaries in Chełmno 2023:
– the 790th anniversary of the foundation of Chełmno and the Chełmno Law
– the 550th anniversary of the foundation of the Studium Particulare – the Chełmno Academy
– the 550th anniversary of the birth and 480th anniversary of the death of Nicolaus Copernicus

17 June 2023 (Saturday), 11.00 am: “Embrace Gothic with Copernicus”
Following the traces of the Middle Ages, the Hanseatic League and Copernicus in Chełmno – the city of lovers®.
> On the tour: urban layout, market square with Gothic-Renaissance town hall, Cywiński house, parish church of the Holy Virgin Mary, Chełmno Academy, monastery, post-Franciscan and post-Dominican church, town walls
Guide Elżbieta Pawelec

18 June 2023 (Sunday), 11.00 am: “Medieval – Gothic buildings of Chełmno from the time of the Hanseatic League”
> on the tour, e.g.: Dominican church, town walls, Grudziądz Gate (from outside)
Guide Joanna Stolarska-Kurowska

Participation in the tours is free of charge.
Meeting place: at 11.00 on the square in front of the Town Hall (location of the Museum of Chełmno, 28 Rynek Street).

More information at:
> www.chelmno.pl
> facebook.com/chelmno.miasto.zakochanych
> instagram.com/chelmno_miasto
> www.muzeumchelmno.pl
> facebook.com/Muzeum Ziemi Chełmińskiej
> Event poster (PDF file)

Chorin / Chorin Monastery

Immerse yourself in the eventful past of this impressive monastery, once built by the Cistercians in the 13th century. With its imposing Brick Gothic and ornate decorations, Chorin Monastery is a living testimony to medieval architecture.

At 11 am and 3 pm we offer a creative workshop on textile printing. Under the guidance of textile designer Susan Krieger, you can design your own motifs with linocuts inspired by the brick ornaments of Chorin Monastery. Decorate high-quality linen fabrics with your unique creations! Price: € 25.00 / € 10.00 reduced.

At 2 pm, an inspiring lecture by Prof. Dr. Jan Raue awaits you. Learn more about the importance of the Cistercians and the use of colours using the example of the monasteries in the Mark Brandenburg. This lecture is presented in cooperation with the Chorin Verein e.V.

In the evening at 7.30 pm, the Berlin Crime Theatre invites you to a very special performance. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Umberto Eco’s novel “The Name of the Rose” and experience a rousing production. Price depending on seat selection: € 29 / € 25 / € 19

Frankfurt (Oder)

3 pm: Heads up! Art under the roof
A guided tour of St. Mary’s Church in Frankfurt (Oder), which draws the eye to art treasures at lofty heights.
Meeting place: St. Mary’s Church (St.-Marien-Kirche), Oberkirchpl. 1, D-15230 Frankfurt (Oder)

Gdańsk

18 June, 12:00: Special guided tour
More information at Spacer Szlakiem Gotyku.

Greifswald

Lectures:
10:00 am: Lecture “Brick Gothic in the surroundings of Greifswald – architectural and structural features of the village church in Behrenhoff with reference to Greifswald” with André Lutze, building historian
11:00 am: Lecture “Hidden Gothic – In cellars, staircases and towers of Greifswald” with André Lutze, building historian
Location of both lectures: Market Square, Town Hall, Bürgerschaftssaal (Citizens’ Hall)

Guided tours:
12:30-14:15 pm: Guided tour “Hidden Gothic – In cellars, staircases and towers in the western part of the old town of Greifswald” with André Lutze, building historian
14:30-16:15 pm: Guided tour “Hidden Gothic – In cellars, staircases and towers in the eastern part of the old town of Greifswald” with André Lutze, building historian
Meeting point for both tours: Market Square, main entrance to the town hall

Grudziądz

You can view the programme in Grudziądz as a PDF here.

Güstrow

11 am: The roof and vaults of the Güstrow Cathedral
Guided tour with Dr. Tilo Schöfbeck (building researcher), Schwerin
The focus of the thematic tour on the occasion of the Day of Brick Gothic is the part of the cathedral otherwise hidden from the visitor, the roof structure and the vaults underneath. Dr. Tilo Schöfbeck will tell interesting facts about the construction of the roof, the oldest parts of which date back to the 13th century. Later repairs, which reach up to the present time, tell among other things about the far-reaching trade connections in the Baltic Sea region. The tour also includes an impressive view of the top of the vaults, which bear witness to the various construction phases and architectural influences.
Duration: 90 minutes
Meeting point: Tourist information, Franz-Parr-Platz 10, D-18273 Güstrow
Participation is free of charge. Registration is requested by phone +49 3843/681023.
The number of participants is limited to 15 people. Participation is at your own risk. Participants must be in good health and need sturdy shoes.

11 am: Family theater “GotiKlein” – Gothic for the little ones
Stage at the market place Güstrow
The entrance is free.
For more information, see GotiKlein

Jüterbog

11 am – 5 pm: Mönchenkloster Cultural Quarter
Visit the former Franciscan monastery and today’s cultural quarter Mönchenkloster, built around 1500 and part of the European Route of Brick Gothic. The library in the nave and the museum with offers for the whole family are open for you. You can get more information here.

Further offers in the cultural quarter:
from 2 pm: Coffee, cake and drinks in the cloister from the “Freundeskreis Mönchenkloster e.V.”
from 2 pm: Buy Your House! – We sell our old town
Dissolution of a city model as a donation for the urgently needed renovation of the pulpit column in the Mönchen church.
2 pm: Classical music

Guided tours:
11 am: Guided tour of the town: A rich town – Brick Gothic in Jüterbog
Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Meeting place: Mönchenkirchplatz, D-14913 Jüterbog
Registration directly on site. Donation of 5 euros requested.
3 pm: Guided tour of the monastery
Duration: approx. 1 h
Meeting place: Mönchenkirchplatz, D-14913 Jüterbog
Registration directly on site. Donation requested for the renovation of the pulpit column in the Mönchen church.

Further information on sights and events in and around Jüterbog can be found here.

Lübeck

12.00 noon: 7 Towers Benefit Tour – City and Church
The group will be guided through the historic old town for 45 minutes by city guide Stefanie Ullrich, followed by a tour of the beautiful St. Mary’s Church with Pastor Robert Pfeifer.
Price 12 EUR, tickets are available at the Marienkirche from 17.05.2023 at the kiosk and immediately via our online form.
Meeting place: at the Holsten Gate (Holstentor)

12.20 – 13.20 pm: Public church tour
The third largest church in Germany, the highest brick vault in the world – this guided tour takes you into a very special atmosphere! Free tickets on site directly before the tour, tickets while stocks last. Donation requested.
Meeting place: St. Mary’s Church (St. Marien), Marienkirchhof 1, D-23552 Lübeck

15.15 – 17.45 pm: Public tour of the tower and vaults
Let yourself be moved! An unforgettable guided tour of the highest brick vault in the world awaits you!
A limited number of tickets for the tour are available directly at St. Mary’s Church. Telephone reservations are not possible for this special tour, so be sure to secure your ticket online.
Maximum number of participants: 25 persons, 12 EUR / person
Minimum age: 6-7 years (primary school age)
Meeting place: St. Mary’s Church (St. Marien), Marienkirchhof 1, D-23552 Lübeck

Lüneburg / Lüne Abbey

11 am and 4 pm: Brick Gothic in the Lüne Abbey. A tour
While the foundation of a first hermitage is already attested in the middle of the 12th century, a large part of the older building fabric of Lüne Abbey dates from the late 14th or early 15th century. The monastery was destroyed in a devastating fire on April 30, 1372 and rebuilt on the old foundation walls immediately afterwards. On this year’s Day of Brick Gothic, the focus will be on the still numerous preserved building elements of the Gothic period of Lüne Abbey.
Meeting place: Lüne Abbey. The tours will begin in the inner courtyard of the monastery.
Accompanying: Prof. Dr. Edgar Ring / Tobias Schoo M.A.

Malberg (Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm)

6 pm: Do you love brick? A joyful lecture on the Day of Brick Gothic with a musical quiz
John Swabey, supporting member of the European Route of Brick Gothic, will walk with you on the traces of European Brick Gothic and share his enthusiasm for it.
The lecture takes place in cooperation with the Förderverein Schloss Malberg.
Meeting place: Schloss Malberg, Schloss Straße 45, D-54655 Malberg, Gartensaal (Garden Hall)
Price: Free admission. Registration required. Info at Kreisvolkshochschule Bitburg-Prüm e.V.
Duration: 2 hours

Neubrandenburg

4 pm: Guided tour on the occasion of the 775th anniversary of the city
Experience 775 years of city history – Knight Herbord von Raven, founder and builder of the city of Neubrandenburg, accompanies you on your way through the beautiful and lovable city center, along the medieval ramparts and fortifications, past architectural sights.
Meeting place: Tourist information in the House of Culture and Education (Haus der Kultur und Bildung), Marktplatz 1, D-17033 Neubrandenburg
Price: 10,00 EUR, children up to 10 years free
Duration: approx. 1.5 – 2.0 hours

Or would you rather experience Neubrandenburg virtually?
A mouse click makes it possible and you are already in the midst of city history in 3D format or between contemporary art. The virtual city tour provides a whole new insight into the cultural life of the eastern Mecklenburg city through images and sound. At 15 locations, QR code keys open windows that tell interesting stories.

Parchim

Parchim’s parishes invite everyone interested to take a look at their town churches on the following day: Sunday, June 18th, 2023. From 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm it is possible to visit the St. Mary’s Church. St. George’s Church also opens its doors from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm.

If you can’t find a way to visit the town churches on Sunday, you have the chance again this year during the summer months. From 27.06., St. Mary’s Church can be visited from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm until September 1st, 2023. St. George’s Church can be visited from Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

There is also a lot to discover on the subject of Brick Gothic in the Town Museum of Parchim, the “Kulturmühle Parchim”. Among other things, parts of the building history of the Parchim town hall are made visible on several exhibits. This centuries-old building is a significant part of the Brick Gothic Route. Exciting discoveries are also possible directly on the “object” brick – the dust from bricks of consecrated buildings was attributed healing and protective effects in the Middle Ages!

Płock

12 noon: The City of Płock, together with the Płock Tourist Board, invites you to a guided walk along the Brick Gothic Route:
Remains of the castle and former Benedictine abbey
Former collegiate church of St. Michael
House under the trumpets
Dominican Church
City wall
Scientific Society of Płock
Former fortified tower
St. Bartholomew Parish Church

Meeting place: Marketplace (pl. Stary Rynek)

Ribnitz

11 am to 5 pm – St. Mary’s Church Ribnitz tower tour with a wide view over Fischland – coffee and cake

Stendal

10 am: Special guided tour around the marketplace: Brick and Clinker
Meeting point: Roland Statue, Marienkirchstraße (at the corner of the court arbour of the town hall), D-39576 Stendal

4 pm: Special guided tour Tangermünde Gate (Tangermünder Tor)
Meeting point: Music Forum St. Catherine’s Church (Musikforum Katharinenkirche), Schadwachten 48, D-39576 Stendal

The tours are free of charge.
Advance booking is requested via the Stendal Tourist Information Office.
Tel.: +49 3931-651190 | E-Mail: touristinfo@stendal.de

Wolgast

Day of Brick Gothic at the St. Gertrude’s Chapel in Wolgast: Two events organized by the Gertrude Association in Wolgast on June 17th and 18th

June 17th, 3 pm: Guided tours through the St. Gertrude’s Chapel
On June 17th from 3 pm, visitors have the opportunity to see the more than 600-year-old gem of Brick Gothic architecture at the Old Cemetery in Wolgast.
Members of the association offer guided tours and provide insights into the history and architecture of the chapel with its unique star vault.
Admission is free and anyone interested is welcome.

June 18th, 3 pm: Festive concert “De Klasmorims” – Yiddish and Eastern European folklore
On June 18th at 3pm “De Klesmorims” will give a festive concert. They play cheerful and humorous Yiddish folklore as well as music from Eastern European dances, increasing in tempo at breathtaking speed.
A musical performance full of energy and passion.
Entry costs €5.

General Information about the Day of Brick Gothic

The special day declared by the European Route of Brick Gothic is held throughout Europe every year on the third Saturday in June and raises awareness of the cultural heritage of Brick Gothic.

The occasion for the first Day of Brick Gothic in 2018 was the European Year of Cultural Heritage, which was celebrated across Europe with the idea of “Sharing Heritage”. In Germany, Denmark and Poland, the Day of Brick Gothic is realised through the combined effort of representatives of monument preservation, science, the Church, tourism and administration and is coordinated by the European Route of Brick Gothic.

The member cities of the European Route of Brick Gothic combine the shared cultural heritage of Brick Gothic – the Medieval Brick Gothic architecture predominantly in the Baltic Sea region, which they aim to convey together to the general public. An important shared goal is to inspire people for conserving this cultural heritage.