With a reception in Worms, the three ShUM cities of Mainz, Speyer and Worms celebrate their status as world heritage sites. But the UNESCO title also obliges: Investments are needed.
The Mayor of Worms, Adolf Kessel (CDU), invites you to a so-called thank you reception on Thursday evening. According to the city, the two mayors of Mainz and Speyer, Michael Ebling (SPD) and Stefanie Sailer (SPD), will also take part.
A thank you to the staff
According to Kessel, the main focus of this reception will be on those who have worked on this UNESCO application. You are all invited to the Worms marketplace to celebrate this success. Kessel went on to say that they worked hard together for 15 years to make the Jewish sites world heritage sites. That has been done since Tuesday.
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Prime Minister Malu Dreyer signs the UNESCO World Heritage application “ShUM sites Speyer, Worms and Mainz” in the New Synagogue Mainz together with the city leaders of Mainz, Worms and Speyer.
picture-alliance / Reportdienste
picture alliance/dpa | Andreas Arnold
The city of Mainz also wants to celebrate the decision of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and is also preparing a reception for Friday afternoon – in the courtyard of the Electoral Palace. The celebrations will continue in Worms over the weekend: The city invites all interested parties to free city tours to the historical Jewish sites. However, registration is required.
World Heritage sites must be maintained
With the designation as a World Heritage site, the three ShUM cities also enter into obligations. UNESCO demands that the areas recognized and protected by it be preserved and made accessible to the public.
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The first plans for a visitor pavilion hang on the fence of the Jewish cemetery in Mainz
SWR
There are already concrete plans for this in Mainz: For example, a visitor pavilion is being built in the Jewish cemetery. The tombstones there are also to be restored and the cemetery made accessible, it is said.
“World Heritage cities are cities that people visit precisely because they have special cultural significance. That will attract people to Mainz.”
Cities want to attract tourists
That costs money, but on the other hand it should further boost tourism in Mainz. Mainz Mayor Ebling said shortly after UNESCO’s decision that he was expecting significantly more foreign guests: especially at the “Judensand” cemetery, where famous Jewish scholars are buried and where there are tombs, some of which are more than 1,000 years old are.
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Outside entrance to the mikvah, the ritual bath in the Judenhof in Speyer.
SWR
In Speyer and Worms, those responsible are thinking about a better infrastructure. Parking spaces and better access regulations are needed so that there are no traffic jams or obstructions around the ritual baths (mikvah), for example.
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