One year after being awarded the European Heritage Label, a personal honouring took place in Brussels. Abbot Philipp accepted the invitation to the European Parliament and, together with representatives from the other 16 partner sites of the project “Cisterscapes connecting Europe”, received the Europe Medal from the EPP Group. The award was presented by German MEP Monika Hohlmeier during a festive ceremony at the Bavarian Representation in Brussels.
Cisterscapes is a successful European model. The network unites former Cistercian landscapes in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovenia. Together, they build upon the spirit of the Cistercian Order, which already in the Middle Ages spread knowledge, craftsmanship, and culture across borders. Through numerous projects in the fields of education, culture, regional development, and sustainable tourism, it demonstrates across national borders how Europe and its history can be experienced in the present day.
The European Heritage Label is one of the EU’s most important cultural policy instruments. It honours places that shape Europe’s history and identity.