New pilgrimage in Thuringia dedicated
Pilgrim tourism
The pilgrim tourism is in vogue, and this doesnt apply only for the Way of St. James. Since a couple of years, tourists who visited thuringia kept asking for such an opportunity, which has led in conclusion to the opening of the new Pilgrim Way “On the traces of strong women” in the green state.
The route
This new milestone combines the story of three major women from the Christian history of Thuringia, the Benedictine Walburga (710 – 779), the founder of monastery Christin Paulina (1067 – 1107) and St. Elisabeth of Thuringia (1207 – 1231). The pilgrimage leads from Erfurt on Molsdorf, Ichtershausen, Arnstadt, Niederwillingen and Singen to Paulinzella. It is based on the medieval Way of St. James, 50 kilometres long and marked with a scallop. In the future, it will even be extended to Saalfeld and Coburg.
Perfect for a weekend break
That sounds promising and is especially doable on a – extended – weekend. “We want to let this theme way flourish whole-hearted and look forward to welcome many pilgrims friends,” says Christine Dölle, contact for the pilgrims in the Augustinian monastery.
Beech forests will be UNESCO World Heritage
The National Park Hainich
Thuringia is seeking the nomination of the unique beech forests of the National Park Hainich as a UNESCO World Heritage site. For a corresponding application to support the nomination campaign, also the Thuringian Minister for Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Environment Dr. Volker Sklenar championed this project in his speech to the Thuringian Landtag.
The nomination
By this years autumn, a joint request of selected German beech forest regions in Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg and Hesse under the aegis of Thuringia will be developed. This will justify the inclusion of beech forests as a world natural heritage and is supposed to be submitted to the World Heritage Committee in early 2009 for its examination. The nomination will range – according to current planning – until 2010. Finally, the confirmation as a world natural heritage is expected for the year 2011.