Domowina strengthens monument protection: sustainably securing Sorbian culture!

Domowina strengthens monument protection: sustainably securing Sorbian culture!

What’s new from Cottbus/Chóśebuz? The Sorbian and Wendish cultures have long been hot topics in the city. Heike Apelt from Domowina – Association of Lusatian Sorbs. V. now officially belongs to the working group “Sorbian/Wendish monuments of the city of Cottbus/Chóśebuz – I Serbske pomniki města Cottbus/Chóśebuz”. This appointment was made at the suggestion of Mayor Tobias Schick and was discussed at the last quarterly meeting in September. The next steps for the preservation and care of the cultural treasures were also determined.

A central concern of the working group is the preservation of Sorbian and Wendish cultural evidence, especially with regard to art in architecture. Many of these important pieces of evidence have not yet been definitively secured, and the city of Cottbus/Chóśebuz would now like to address this specifically. Some valuable murals can already be found, especially in the city center, including in the city promenade and in the Wendish Quarter, as well as memorial plaques that commemorate important personalities. The Slavic castle ramparts in Sielow/Žylow and in Mitte/Srjejź are also of great importance as archaeological monuments.

A place of culture

The Wendish House (Serbski dom) is the heart of the Sorbian community in Cottbus. Located in the city center, near the State Theater, it was opened in 1990 as a cultural, political and information center. It is not only the headquarters of Domowina and the Domowina Regional Association of Niederlausitz e.V., but also a place that promotes encounters and exchange. The Foundation for the Sorbian People has an important presence here, as does the Sorbian Institute, which deals with research into the Lower Sorbian language and culture.

In addition, the Wendisches Haus can rely on a variety of offers. It houses a Lower Sorbian library, organizes exhibitions and events in the club room and has had an information office in Lower Lusatia for the Sorbian National Ensemble since 2013. By the way, the branch of the Domowina publishing house in Bautzen contributes to the diversity of cultural life and ensures that Sorbian literature is not forgotten.

The way into the future

The cooperation between the city of Cottbus/Chóśebuz and Domowina in the area of ​​monument preservation remains extremely important. The goal of the new working group is clear: the collection, documentation and appreciation of Sorbian and Wendish monuments and testimonies should be promoted so that these valuable pieces of cultural heritage are preserved for future generations. It remains to be seen what further steps will be taken to preserve and keep alive the complex history and culture of the Sorbs and Wends.

But one thing is certain: there is something going on in Cottbus/Chóśebuz! The initiative shows that local culture is not only remembered, but actively lived. This is a good sign for the future development and identity of the region.