Minister of State Maria Böhmer was deeply impressed by the Francke Foundations in Halle on the Saale River. “Outstanding work has been done to renovate the Francke Foundations which were severely neglected before reunification. This is important for the authenticity of the sites, and an important criterion of the World Heritage Committee’s assessment.”

The Foundations are on the UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s Tentative List: They will apply to be declared UNESCO World Heritage in the coming year.

After her attendance in Halle Böhmer and Haselhoff travelled to Naumburg and visited the Naumburg Cathedral and the landscape of the rivers Saale and Unstrut, an important dominion in the High Middle Ages. The Committee will already decide on this year’s session on the designation of Naumburg Cathedral and the landscape of the rivers Saale and Unstrut as UNESCO World Heritage.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) will visit the sites and hold an expert member’s vote in May.

Minister of State Böhmer aims at strengthening the professional level in order to avoid the politicisation of the Convention during her chairmanship.    

Further Information:

Website of the Federal Foreign Office