The European Commission has awarded the European Heritage Label (EHL) to the "Urban River Landscape Pader" in Paderborn. In scientific cooperation with the Department of Contemporary History at Paderborn University, the city submitted the 2023 application entitled "City. People. River. - The Pader for Europe". The Pader has now been selected because it is an example of European water culture. It has its origins in one of the most water-rich inner-city headwaters in Europe and flows exclusively through the city of Paderborn for 4.6 kilometres.
"The Pader, with its unique water culture and a history spanning centuries, shows how the smallest rivers can write great stories - and how local identity can gain European significance. I would like to congratulate the Paderborn University on the European Heritage Label and am delighted that the Paderborn University's Contemporary History department is playing a key role in the project," says Prof Dr Matthias Bauer, President of the Paderborn University. The EKS is awarded to places and sites that symbolise European values and play a role in the history of Europe. It also honours sites that offer educational activities and bring visitors closer together.
Diverse projects around the Pader
As part of the application process, the Institute of History was involved in reappraising the history and, among other things, constructed a virtual tour of the western Pader spring area as it looked in 1920. The researchers also developed the online portal "Paderpedia", which brings together everything worth knowing about Germany's shortest river in a database. In addition, the topic of European water and environmental history was highlighted in various courses.
Together with the city of Paderborn and other partners, the historians carried out projects to familiarise citizens and visitors to the city of Paderborn with the special features of water culture. These included projects in schools, exhibitions and workshops. In future, learning and meeting places are to be created along the river that combine digital and analogue formats. In addition, educational programmes and international collaborations are intended to sensitise young people in particular to the topics of sustainability, European cultural heritage and the use of water.
This text was translated automatically.
