Gera hands over the baton: Open Monument Day starts in Bamberg!

Gera hands over the baton: Open Monument Day starts in Bamberg!

On January 15, 2026, an important handover was celebrated in Gera: Mayor Kurt Dannenberg handed over the baton for the Open Monument Day® to his Bamberg counterpart Andreas Starke. This tradition brings a breath of fresh air to the nationwide initiative, which has set itself the task of increasing awareness of our architectural heritage. Gera was the proud host of the event last year and impressed with over 17,000 guests who were able to view more than 40 of around 600 monuments. Across Germany, over 6,500 monuments in around 2,300 cities opened their doors that day, which underlines the great interest of the population.

Laura Kreisel, head of the lower monument protection authority in Gera, emphasized that awareness of cultural heritage has increased in her city. For the coming year, Gera also plans to take part in the Day of the Open Monument® on September 13th, which has the motto “NETWORKS: Monuments & Infrastructure”, as the German Foundation for Monument Protection also informs. The city will offer between 15 and 20 program items, which should again attract many interested parties.

A look at the event

The programming for the Open Monument Day® will start in February 2026. Special “show construction sites” and the opening of selected monuments are planned. The focus is on protected roads, railway and tram infrastructure as well as bridge structures. These historical buildings are not only witnesses to the past, but also important connecting places that promote exchange between people.

Anyone who would like to visit the event can look forward to a wide range of offers: from guided tours to otherwise inaccessible places to concerts in historic walls to exciting themed bike tours. According to the information on the official website of the Day of the Open Monument, there are numerous free events that allow participants to organize their day individually. A mobile phone app will also help you find and navigate interesting local monuments.

The thought behind the monuments

The theme for 2026 – “NETWORKS: Monuments & Infrastructure” – highlights that monuments are not only historical sites, but also act as networks that connect our communities. These monuments provide identity and aesthetic appeal and help make important social and infrastructural anchor points publicly accessible. The Open Monument Day® is therefore not only a celebration of the past, but also a promotion of the present and future of our urban landscapes.

If you are interested in these events, you should definitely note September 13, 2026 in your calendar. A good reason to get to grips with your own homeland and its history again and to discover the fantastic monuments in our surroundings.