New city tour in Cottbus: Experience Sorbian culture visibly!

New city tour in Cottbus: Experience Sorbian culture visibly!

A new city tour about the fascinating Sorbian/Wendish culture has now been opened in Cottbus. This eventful route shows works of art in public spaces with depth and history at 14 stations marked by a characteristic blue traditional costume. The initiative was launched by 15 students from the “Lusatian History and Stories” seminar course at the Lower Sorbian High School and is carried out in close collaboration with the Sorbian Institute, CottbusService, City Management and other partners. The aim of the project is to put the cultural heritage of the Sorbian and German residents in the spotlight and to draw attention to the shared history of Cottbus. Niederlausitz currently reported about the exciting development.

What is special about this tour is not only the public art, but also the digitization of the information. On the Cottbus Tourism website you can find profiles of the individual works of art, which provide a deeper insight into Sorbian/Wendish history. A digital city tour was originally planned; Nevertheless, the idea was further developed to create a guidance system with the Cottbus city management. A spray chalk campaign with the blue motif of the traditional hood was recently implemented to further mark the route.

A program to appreciate art

But the commitment to Sorbian/Wendish art continues. On March 20, 2024, an event will take place at the Sorbian Institute centered around the presentation of a wall mosaic of a Sorbian market scene. Integrated into this event, the new findings from the publication “Valuation of Sorbian/Wendish art in the public space of Cottbus/Chóśebuz” will be presented. Discussions about the appreciation and preservation of these art objects are planned, supplemented by a tour of selected works of art in the city center, led by Christina Kliem, curator of the Serbski muzej/Wendish Museum. Those interested can register until March 15, 2024.

The city tour and the upcoming event impressively show how the city of Cottbus strives to preserve its diverse cultural landscape and promote intercultural exchange. The combination of history, art and public space not only creates a unifying experience, but also promotes understanding of the region's true diversity under international law. Further details and information can be found on the city of Cottbus website: Cottbus culture.