German-Polish Field Trip Seminar in the Havelland Region in 2026

From July 26 to 31, students of Protestant and Catholic theology at the University of Siegen, led by Prof. Dr. Veronika Albrecht-Birkner and Prof. Emeritus Dr. Andreas Hoffmann, in an interdisciplinary German-Polish field trip to the region between Brandenburg, Potsdam, and Havelberg. The field trip was organized in cooperation with the universities of Halle and Wrocław.

Under the theme “Art and Religion of the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period in the Havelland,” the excursion participants explored the history of this region from the perspectives of church history and theological history, examining its interconnections with the history of art and architecture. They visited both famous sites—such as St. Gotthard’s Church in Brandenburg, the Cistercian monastery church in Lehnin, St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Brandenburg, and St. Mary’s Cathedral in Havelberg—as well as small churches, for example, in Ketzür, Babelsberg, Großwudicke, Markau (Nauen), and Garz. 

At each site, the Polish art history students gave informative presentations. The students from Siegen and Halle presented lectures in Milow on various aspects of church history as well as on the Jewish history of the Havelland region. In addition, the Polish art historians Prof. Dr. Jan Harasimowicz and Dr. Marcin Wisłocki gave overview lectures on the art and architectural history of the Havelland region. Another key component of the field trip seminar was a week-long group project focusing on three epitaphs in St. Gotthard Church in Brandenburg. On the final day, the groups—which were interdisciplinary and international in composition—presented the results of their work in highly creative ways. 

The field trip seminar was not only academically enriching but also culturally enriching due to the intensive and fruitful international and interdisciplinary collaboration with the University of Wrocław. To overcome the language barrier, the seminar was conducted in English, which facilitated academic communication. The participants were housed in Milow at the Carl Bolle Youth Hostel.

The field trip seminar was funded by the Foundation for German-Polish Cooperation and is part of the field trip and cooperation activities of the departments of Protestant and Catholic Theology at the University of Siegen. This type of field trip has been taking place for 22 years in cooperation with the universities of Halle and Wrocław and offers students a unique opportunity to explore regions in Germany and Poland in depth.

The leadership team (from left to right): Prof. Dr. Udo Sträter, Halle; Dr. Agnieszka Seidel-Grzesińska and Dr. Marcin Wisłocki, Wrocław; Prof. Dr. Andreas Hoffmann and Prof. Dr. Veronika Albrecht-Birkner, Siegen; Prof. Dr. Jan Harasimowicz, Wrocław.