UNESCO recognizes Herrnhut and related settlements as World Heritage sites, highlighting their cultural significance and global impact.
Historical significance and cultural exchange
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has designated the settlements of the Moravian Church, including the small Saxon town of Herrnhut, as a new World Heritage site. This decision, announced during the 46th session in New Delhi, India, recognizes the settlements’ role in fostering cultural and spiritual exchange across national borders and continents.
Maria Böhmer, President of the German UNESCO Commission, emphasized the settlements’ embodiment of unity in diversity, stating, “They are united in diversity and thus a symbol of the World Heritage idea.” This designation underscores the Moravian Church’s historical importance and its influence on global religious and cultural landscapes.
The Moravian Church, also known as the Unitas Fratrum, has a rich history dating back to the 15th century in Bohemia and Moravia. Its teachings emphasize personal piety, missionary work, and education. The church’s influence has spread to various parts of the world, with an estimated 825,000 members globally as of 2018.
Architectural heritage and global expansion
The Herrnhut settlement, founded in 1722 by religious refugees from Moravia, serves as the origin point for the Moravian Church. The newly created transnational World Heritage site includes not only Herrnhut but also related settlements in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (USA), and Gracehill, Northern Ireland.
These settlements share a distinctive architectural style, characterized by baroque planning principles and right-angled layouts. The uniform urban development and simple architecture reflect the community’s ideals and communal lifestyle. This architectural blueprint was carried by missionaries to various parts of the world, resulting in the establishment of over 30 similar settlements globally.
One such settlement, Christiansfeld in Denmark, was previously recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015. This earlier designation paved the way for the broader recognition of Moravian Church settlements as significant cultural landmarks.
Modern impact and cultural exports
Despite its small size, with only about 1,200 inhabitants in the town proper and 5,000 including surrounding villages, Herrnhut has had a disproportionate impact on global culture. The town is renowned for two particular exports:
- Moravian Stars: These decorative stars, originally created as a geometry lesson for children in the 1830s, have become a popular Christmas decoration worldwide. The local manufactory produces nearly 800,000 stars annually, showcasing the enduring appeal of this cultural symbol.
- Moravian Daily Texts: This devotional book, containing Bible verses for each day of the year, is published in over 60 languages. First compiled in 1731, it continues to be a spiritual guide for many around the world, with an estimated readership of 1.5 million people.
Germany’s World Heritage landscape
With this new addition, Germany now boasts 53 UNESCO World Heritage sites, reflecting the country’s rich cultural and natural heritage. The list includes diverse sites such as the Aachen Cathedral, the Wadden Sea, and the Bauhaus sites in Weimar and Dessau.
As UNESCO continues to evaluate potential World Heritage sites, attention now turns to Schwerin, the capital of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The city, with its impressive castle and lake, has been on Germany’s tentative list for a decade and may soon join the ranks of World Heritage sites, further enriching Germany’s cultural landscape.
The recognition of the Moravian Church settlements as World Heritage sites not only preserves their historical and architectural significance but also highlights the ongoing impact of this religious community on global culture and spirituality.
