Diocese of Graz-Seckau

Regional Strategies Development including Regional Church Route Description

PP7 – Diocese of Graz-Seckau

Content

1 Regional context ...... 4

1.1 Strengths ...... 5 1.1.1 Socio-economics contexts and entrepreneurship ...... 5 1.1.2 Routes and location ...... 6 1.1.3 Heritage and preservation ...... 7 1.1.4 Local identity and commitment ...... 8 1.2 Weaknesses ...... 8 1.2.1 Socio-economics contexts and entrepreneurship ...... 8 1.2.2 Routes and location ...... 8 1.2.3 Heritage and preservation ...... 9 1.2.4 Local identity and commitment ...... 9 1.3 Opportunities ...... 9 1.3.1 Socio-economics contexts and entrepreneurship ...... 9 1.3.2 Routes and location ...... 10 1.3.3 Heritage and preservation ...... 11 1.3.4 Local identity and commitment ...... 11 1.4 Threats ...... 11 1.4.1 Socio-economics contexts and entrepreneurship ...... 11 1.4.2 Routes and location ...... 11 1.4.3 Heritage and preservation ...... 11 1.4.4 Local identity and commitment ...... 11 2 Regional church route ...... 12

2.1 Benedictine Abbey of Seckau ...... 13 2.1.1 History ...... 13 2.1.2 The basilica ...... 13 2.2 Assumption of Mary in Maria Buch ...... 14 2.2.1 History ...... 14 2.2.2 About the church ...... 14 2.2.3 Further specialities ...... 14 2.3 Benedictine Abbey of Saint Lambert ...... 15 2.3.1 History ...... 15 2.3.2 Churches and museum ...... 15 2.3.3 Other specialities ...... 15 2.4 Saint Cecilia in Bodendorf ...... 16 2.4.1 History and church ...... 16 2.4.2 Further trivia ...... 16 2.5 Saint Ulrich in Krakauhintermühlen ...... 17

2.6 Saint George in St. Georgen ob Judenburg ...... 18 2.7 Saint George in St. Georgen ob Murau ...... 19 2.8 Saint Oswald in Krakaudorf ...... 20

3 The process of selection of the churches ...... 21

4 Regional strategy ...... 24

4.1 Introduction ...... 24 4.2 Vision ...... 24 4.3 Strategic approach ...... 24 4.4 Goals of the strategy ...... 25 4.5 Members/Participants of the Regional Working Group ...... 25 4.6 Actions foreseen ...... 26 4.7 Timeframes ...... 26 4.8 Budget/financial resources ...... 26 4.9 Possible sources of funding ...... 26 4.9.1 Public Funding ...... 26 4.9.2 Sponsoring ...... 26

5 Statement of commitment and signatures ...... 27

1 Regional context

STYRIA

The federal state of Styria is situated in the south-eastern part of Austria. Styria has about 1.200.000 inhabitants. 74% of them are Roman Catholic People.

The Western Upper Styria consists of two districts, the district Murau (western part) and the Murtal (eastern part).

The district Murtal is characterized industrially. Murau makes the timber industry, and forestry and tourism represent the regional specialization.

1.1 Strengths

1.1.1 Socio-economics contexts and entrepreneurship

There are many innovative individual initiatives, strong brands and networkings of companies in the region.

The Meisterwelten (“Master worlds“) with 31 companies: Real Styrian craft art would like to make a network for quality conscious master companies visible, and support this in the long term. Spe- cial main focus: Quality, creativity and affordability. Motto: Together we are strong, together we are masterly!

The Holzwelt (“Woodworld”) pursues an integrated regional development with the help of five main focuses (http://www.holzwelt.at):  Renewable (Regenerative) energy  Wood  Regional craft  Leisure tourism and rest  Art and culture.

The Steirische Holzstraße (“Styrian Woodroad“) is a tourism-based project with  Round trips  Excursions  Wooden route run (a kind of marathon). Members in association with Styrian woodroad are all 34 municipalities from the district of Murau and the wooden museum Saint Ruprecht near Murau.

Kraft. Das Murtal (“Power. The valley of the river Mur“) is an initiative of the industry and the producing economy of the region. Nearly 60 leading companies and partner organisations put together incentives toward the strengthening of the location. The initiative indicates the potential of the region and supports its advancement. The big aims of the project are:  Construction of a sustainable image  Increase of the attraction of the employers  Anchorage of the network industry and trade and service businesses as an important com- petitive factor  Strengthening of the regional responsibility of industry and producing economy  Creation of an industrial-tourist offer

Murauer Bier is one of the biggest beer brands of Austria and very open for sponsorship.

Soft tourism (Space for rest), through the beauties of the scenery of "Murtalland", with many self- supporting huts, family businesses, and children-friendly offers and activities

Schule des Daseins ("school of being"), an initiative of the convent of St. Lambrecht with a national acceptance: www.schuledesdaseins.at/schule.php

Therme Aqua-Lux, a new thermal bath with atmospheric music stagings and light stagings, individual space smells and high-quality materials, is directed to all senses. www.therme-aqualux.at/

Kreischberg, a leisure area and, above all, winter sports place with a special main focus on young people: http://www.kreischberg.at/

Rieseralm, many offers especially for children: http://www.rieseralm.at/

Zirbenland, with favourable ski-lift prices: http://www.zirbenland.at/

Bildungsnetzwerk (Educational Network), the region is a model-region as a “learning region”

Nature reserve Grebenzen, a nature reserve with many opportunities for vacation and relaxation

Gesundes Krakautal (The healthy valley of Krakau)

Via Natura: 126 km of 10-subject segments lead by 10 municipalities. Every stage offers new sur- prises around the miracles of nature to discover, to investigate and to enjoy. http://www.naturpark-grebenzen.at/via-natura/natur-lese-weg.html

Cycling & Hiking:  Well-known hiking tours  Murradweg (Cycling path)  Hemma-Pilger-Weg (Pilgrim’s way)

Initiatives in the energy sector: Energy autarky for the region Murau by 2015, new energy mod- els, investments in alternative energy, E-bike booms, sensitivity of the population for energy ques- tions is rising.

More beds: New buildings of hotels, as well as family businesses which are glad if initiative is taken

Project Spielberg: a new event, with animation and a play centre (owned and operated by Red Bull) – the Formular 1 has come back to Austria!

Das JUFA: Youth guest house in Murau

Hungary: Good connection with the Hungarian tourism market

More medium-sized businesses

Fewer unemployed (But also high migration)

1.1.2 Routes and location

The Hemmaweg (pilgrim-route) will be used more than the "Mariazeller Gründerweg“. Benedict- route comes from Carinthia, could be used more.

The wood-track in Murau is marketed well. “Wood ambassadors” also are already in existence.

The Murradweg is a national connection to the European network of cycling-routes

Area to Krakau (mystical connotation)

Via natura (see above)

E-bikes - routes available in Zirbenland

Taxi buses as Tälerbus, Zirbitzblitz, Go mobile ... connecting the individual valleys

Heaven and wood: a route of churches that have to do with wood

Murtalbahn with the charm of a narrow-gauge railway

Urban sprawl is less than in other parts of Styria

The major initiatives have an intense Internet - Performance  Nature Grebenzen  Wood World  Zirbenland  Murradweg  Spielberg and others

1.1.3 Heritage and preservation

Cultural identity as a function In the region, the regional and local culture has a strong identity-creating function.

Regional cultural sites:  Churches  Monasteries  Castles  Village / marketplaces

Church structures are often the last meeting infrastructures in the local area. There are churches in almost every location.

Local traditions  Carnival Race (24 municipalities are included) www.freizeitinfo.at  Samson: www.buergergarde-murau.at  Day of St Anne (horse consecration)  The Great Womenday in Maria Buch

Cultural Events, festivals:  Kirchtage (traditional events)  Murau - theater tradition  Volksschauspiele (Lassnitz)  Oberzeiring (Medieval Festival) wooden World Heritage  Cultural Summer St. Peter  Passion Play  Oberwölz is closing and so on…

Free entrance to churches

Heaven and wood as existing cultural route

Old traditions are increasingly enlivened again.

Museums: Besides local museums there are two national museums  The Styrian Wood Museum: www.holzmuseum.at/  The Austrian Blasmusikmuseum (brassmusic): www.blasmusikmuseum.istsuper.com/

Many associations are active in the cultural field (choirs, brass band music, traditional house music as well as sports clubs, fire ...)

Particularly heavily involved in cultural events: the Styrian country's youth

1.1.4 Local identity and commitment

Communality grows  It can only work together, small mergers have already taken place  Many networks are available or on the way  Regional development is actively maintained

Many valleys have a strong cultural expression

Projects go well when people are behind them.

Churches have an important cultural role

Other than designated cultural associations, people participate in cultural activities such as  Rural Youth (Landjugend)  Parishes  Trachtenvereine (traditional Austrian dress association)  Schützen (traditional target shooters association)  Choirs  Brass  Sports Clubs  Fire department

Many exceptional projects (midsummer festival, Mountaintop worship - Zirbitzkogel) are a great attraction, even for youth.

Highly differentiated offers correspond to the heterogeneous society.

People are very open. The motivation occurs unmediated.

Structures can be created quickly, because there are many networks.

If the right people are at work, it does very well. With the right leadership, people participate.

1.2 Weaknesses

1.2.1 Socio-economics contexts and entrepreneurship

High migration: especially young people and better educated people are leaving the region

Many small businesses: they have less money for investments, initiatives and advertising

Relatively small structures

No hotel in Therme Fohnsdorf (day visitors only), and poor utilization

Too low bed capacity

Agriculture: too few shops & supermarkets that work with farmers

1.2.2 Routes and location

Public transport is underutilized. Very little willingness to use public transport.

There are no known cultural routes

Taxi buses are not well known and weakly financially equipped.

Websites: not optimally networked

No data collection of cultural routes / trails / pilgrimage and pilgrimage routes

1.2.3 Heritage and preservation

Often there is a strong focus on local initiatives, missing the possibility to be linked to transregional projects

1.2.4 Local identity and commitment

People need much persuasiveness; the beginning is very troublesome

In the church opinions are very different, and some pastors do not allow for diversity.

Youth are leaving the region and are also missed in cultural and community work

Cultural initiatives are dependent on individuals

1.3 Opportunities

1.3.1 Socio-economics contexts and entrepreneurship

Interest in partnerships: from all groups, initiatives, businesses, municipalities, parishes, restau- rants, clubs ...

Partnerships with primarily  St. Lambrecht  Seckau  Wood World  Parishes  World champion (especially mason, carpenter, locksmith ...)  Traditional crafts  green tourism  Family farms  Farm Holidays

Italy and Germany: There could be stronger markets possible

A project with children and families would have a good chance

Murauer beer: could be also a sponsor. Other sponsors are possible (banks, larger funds, trad- ing).

An e-bike - campaign would be possible with battery exchange stations

Compound with trade, tourism & agriculture: total packages could be offered (traditional crafts & Organic Agriculture)

Different routes, which can be combined and target different groups to cope in different times and are offering different attractions

Travel + Event + Free Entrance to churches

As a complementary project for Spielberg - the combination of experience / event and relaxation / meditation / spirituality

A Murregion - Card, which is valid for all offers.

1.3.2 Routes and location

A collection of all possible routes for hikers, pilgrims, cyclists could be a basis for an ideal networking.  Heaven and wood

Possibilities: Church routes starting and/or arriving from/to the main tourist areas such as  Grebenzen  Naturpark Zirbitzkogel – Grebenzen - Krakau  Kreischberg  Lachtal  Murradweg  Holzweg  Spielberg some hiking routes are available.

Routes with spiritual accompaniment

Connect Monasteries: Route of St. Lambrecht and Seckau with 6 - 8 churches

Motives for pilgrims that could be addressed. Very interesting:  Silence and contemplation  Self-discovery  Discover nature  Values at the center seem interesting:  Back to the roots  New Places / Regions Meet  Soul - mind - body  New power places  Cultural experience  Deepen relations would also be possible:  Spiritual and mental development  Win distance  Find new access to God  New Partnerships  Discover mysticism  Just go  Community

Small pilgrimage routes are on the rise

Various “pearl necklaces“ of Churches – „Marterln“ (religious signs in the landscape) - chapels

1.3.3 Heritage and preservation

Include the many small and big initiatives to church routes  Wood World Murau  Folk Culture  Old traditions come back (like Kräutersträußerl, ….)  Concerts

Pilgrimages and pilgrims revive

1.3.4 Local identity and commitment

Maintenance of Networks

Local people have to take initiative (and have to convince others)

1.4 Threats

1.4.1 Socio-economics contexts and entrepreneurship

Many potential partners are too busy with themselves (and often with their own economic prob- lems) and employment to bring any energy.

Strong competition among tourism authorities.

Risk that before the project is established important structures will break down.

Networks are not strong enough

New operators (like Spielberg) come from a "different world" and have an unsettling effect on people

1.4.2 Routes and location

Discussions of the financing of public transport facilities

Concentration on individual valleys / parochial thinking makes networking difficult sometimes

Fight on domination in common representations

1.4.3 Heritage and preservation

Networking is sometimes operated not enough

Too much separation between traditional and modern culture

1.4.4 Local identity and commitment The exceptional and unique events often outshine the other "daily" cultural events.

2 Regional church route

2.1 Benedictine Abbey of Seckau

2.1.1 History The Augustine Canon Stift of Adalram von Waldeck was moved from the nearby St. Marein to Seckau in 1142, after a hunting experience he dreamed the Mother of God gave the order to cut down a tree. Actual reasons were the seclusion and pace as well as the building material sand- stone, which could be quarried only several hundred meters away. In 1218 the Archbishop of Salz- burg founded a bishop's see here. The name of the diocese Graz-Seckau still recalls these roots today. After the Canon Stift was dissolved by Joseph II in 1782 it was resettled in 1883 by Benedic- tine monks from Beuron.

2.1.2 The basilica In spite of several reconstructions during the centuries in the inside of the church the Romanesque basic principle is still noticeable: in alternating order two columns and a pillar are aligned to each other and are connected by round arches. The nave has a stellar vault that replaced a simple wooden ceiling after the fire of 1259. The so-called rood screen cross immediately draws the eyes of beholder. Crucified Christ is surrounded by Maria, Mother of God and Apostle John. This late Romanesque work already shows the signs of passage to Gothic style. The Corpus of the Saviour is still represented as a sovereign figure but also already shows the characteristic S-swing, in which the sufferings of the cross are expressed. Maria's representation reminds of a priestess and thereby to her contribution to the re- demption. John is portrayed as an astonished witness. This type of composition is a real rarity in the Alpine countries.

2.2 Assumption of Mary in Maria Buch

2.2.1 History Maria Buch was mentioned in documents the first time in the first half of the 10th century. This means it is probably the oldest place of pilgrimage in Styria. The legend of the foundation retells the despairing search of Empress Eleonore for her prayer book in which she assumed to have a captious letter of a noble man. She promises to build a St Mary's Church at the place the prayer book resurfaces. Shortly afterwards a hunting dogs finds it and the letter proves to be insignificant. But the Empress kept her word and initiated the building of a church from which the current pilgrimage church Maria Buch dates its origin.

2.2.2 About the church The building of the current three-naved late gothic hall church was started in 1455. The interior is divided by 6 octagonal pillars into a three bay middle nave and two similarly high but narrower side naves. Especially worth seeing is the ribbed vault of the naves made of red tiles and the especially closely meshed ribbed vault beneath the gallery. The baroque high alter from 1651 presents in the middle of vine entwined columns and ornaments the Mother of Grace of Maria Buch from 1480. She stands on a half moon and holds a sceptre in her right hand. It almost seems as if she offers her child to the world with the left hand, as a present for the salvation of humans.

2.2.3 Further specialities There are legends about the 6 votice candles in the pilgrimage church, also called Turkish candles. These date back to the times of the Turkish wars when Turkish soldiers gave them to the church as a gift. Yet these were candles filled with gun powder, and would have blown up the entire church if ignited. But one of the bearers stumbled and the explosive content became visible. In gratitude for the wondrous rescue of the Lord's house 6 candles of the same size were created, at least 1.5 m high, but this time really completely from wax. During the times of Emperor Joseph II they were melted as they were seen as a waste of material, and recreated and set up after the sovereign's death.

2.3 Benedictine Abbey of Saint Lambert

2.3.1 History

A "Church of St. Lambert in the Wood" was first mentioned in 1066. The patronage to this day reminds us of the noble family of the Eppensteiner's who dedicated several churches to the holy bishop of Maastricht. The first monks were brought to St. Lambrecht's in 1076 by the Earl Mark- ward von Eppenstein. From this base they influenced the upper valley of the Mur, West Styria and the area of Aflenz, where Mariazell was founded, a significant place of pilgrimage with Europe-wide impact. During its 900 year long history the monks had to leave their cloister two times: from 1786 until 1802 due to its dissolution by Emperor Joseph II, and from 1938 to 1946 when the monastery was seized by the National Socialist regime.

2.3.2 Churches and museum The Gothic monastic church was completed in its current form in 1421 and was raised on the foot- print of the first Romanesque abbey church that was dedicated here in 1160. The Romanesque two-storey charnel house and the chapel which is the only remnant of the medieval castle are both testimonials to the rich artistic work of the abbey, as the St. Peter's Church founded in 1424 is as well.

2.3.3 Other specialities Following in the tradition of medieval monastery medical science, the social work project "Domeni- co" farms the abbey garden today on an area of 3.5 hectares. The focus of this work is the cultiva- tion of tea, herbs and spices (around 150 different varieties in total) which are sold both fresh and in processed form.

2.4 Saint Cecilia in Bodendorf

2.4.1 History and church Outside gothic, inside baroque - this is how this secluded church can be described. The simple, compact church building, probably erected around 1300, is made up of a rectangular nave with a gabled roof and ridge turret and a choir added to the East side. Inside the ambience is determined by the flat ceiling of the main room and the choir supported by cross ridges. The wooden balk ceiling, created around 1500, is amply supplied with rich stencils. The walls of the church were adorned with frescoes in the 14th/15th century. They show the legend of St. Cecil- ia, but also Judgement Day and further Saints like Catherina, Barbara and Margaret, and the so- called Uncumber can also be seen. The altars in the centre on which St. Catherine and St. Marga- ret are shown, originate from the middle of the 15th century.

2.4.2 Further trivia On the entrance door of the church there is a horseshoe. According to the legends it stems from Margaret, Countess of Tyrol-Görz, nicknamed Margaret Maultasch (1318-1369), who rode through the Mur valley during a military campaign. When she could not break into the Cecilia Church, she furiously threw a horseshoe of her horse towards the church, which sticks into the entrance door until this day. The likeness of St. Wilgefortis records an error of understanding of the Alpine people. When the depiction of Christ as King on the Cross in its Byzantine form, which shows Jesus in a crimson garb, became popular in these countries, they saw a woman with a beard into it. This evolved into a legend, according to which a Christian girl wanted to avoid her marriage with a pagan by asking God to deform her. So, she got a beard, whereupon her wrathful father crucified her. She was giv- en the name Wilgefortis, but is mainly known as St. Uncumber. This is based on a further legend that tells us about the wondrous rescue of a bandsman from the gallows by the Saint of the Cross.

2.5 Saint Ulrich in Krakauhintermühlen

The consistently late gothic church building stands at the entry of the Etrach valley. The rectangular nave has a wooden beam ceiling with rich stenciling. The low, strongly constricted ogival trium- phal arch leads into the slightly narrower choir which has a 3/8 closure. The uniqueness of the secluded church is the late gothic winged altar dated to 1521. In the centre of the shrine there is a statue of St. Ulrich of Augsburg, recognizable from his attribute, the fish. On the leaves to its left and right the Saints Andrew and Christopher are shown in panel paintings. The Sunday sides of the movable leaves show St. Catherine of Alexandria and the St. Barbara, the working day sides the two Saints Sebastian and Roch. The pedestal area is fashioned with grisaille painting, that is only the colours grey, black and white were used. The pedestal of the altar, called predella, shows a so-called copper engraving passion from 1512 based on a guideline from Al- brecht Dürer, the lamentation of Christ, to which the donator of the church joins, called Ulrich Welzer. The back side of the altar gives an insight into the Last Judgement, on the predella there are angels with instruments of torture and the veil of Christ. The closing extension of the winged altar is similar in shape to a crown, called a rise in the floor, shows Christ on the Cross with the apostle John and Mary as secondary figures. Built around 1500 and without almost any modifications in the next centuries makes this untouched unified form of the Church St. Ulrich one of the jewels of late gothic sacral art.

2.6 Saint George in St. Georgen ob Judenburg

The core of the parish church St. George probably originates back to the 1st half of the 13th century. Originally built as a type of Romanesque choir tower church, it went through several annexes and reconstructions in the next centuries. The special feature of this church was only detected in the former choir quadrate in 1987 to 1989 due to restoration work. It is one of the few completely preserved artistic decorations of a room from the 13th century and is the earliest known visual rendering of such an extensive George cycle. The Romanesque wall paintings show, in two picture strips on top of each other, scenes from the legend of George. In the paintings you can see a saint who gives away his wealth and you can follow his ascension with your own eyes. The vault paintings above then show this heaven. The Bride of Christ, the church, celebrates marriage with Christ itself, represented as a lamb. In gen- eral, the complete cycle is implemented in Secco technology, that is as painting on dry back- ground, and from the paintings art work's perspective it is an example for the passage from late Romanesque style to the spike style. The Romanesque wall paintings of the parish church of St. George can be compared with the wall paintings in Venice and Ravenna.

2.7 Saint George in St. Georgen ob Murau

The current three-naved hall church in St. Georgen ob Murauwith its drawn-in, two-bay choir, that is slightly shifted to the North, with a 5/8 closure stems from the end of the 15th century, although an older church building can be traced back to the year 1188.

The glass paintings on the eastern window of the southern wall of the nave are remarkable: The eleven glass paintings - the depiction of the baptism of Christ was amended - originally came from the Cecilia Church in Bodendorf and show scenes from the life of Christ (Annunciation, Birth, Presentation, Baptism, Crucifixion and Resurrection), St. Cecilia surrounded by angels and the Blessing Christ, and vines to the left and right of him.

The late gothic winged altar is also notable (which is attributed to the younger workshop of Villach) on the northern nave wall (so-called miner altar) from 1524 (dated). It is donated to St. Mary and shows in its middle shrine St. Mary with child, Catherine with a wheel segment and sword and Bar- bara with chalice and host. On the left wing are painted depictions of the Presentation and Birth of Jesus, on the right one worship of the kings and Mary's death.

The frescos on the south wall should also be pointed out, which are attributed to the Master of Schöder (around 1500), as well as the two panel paintings with depictions of St. Peter and Andrew (attributed to Conrad von Friesach) and the immured lion's head below the organ loft (around 1200).

2.8 Saint Oswald in Krakaudorf

On a slightly elevated piece of meadow stands the parish church St. Oswald at the Eastern end of Krakaudorf. Called capella in its first documented form from 1234, the greatest part of the current church originates from later times. Of the first period of construction only parts of the nave were preserved. The entry portals of the South and West side stem from the mid 15th century, while the building of the church spire was started around 1500.

The richly painted wooden panelled ceiling is noticeable: The wooden ceiling is divided by balks, which have been painted with the help of stencils (rhombi, egg and dart, manacles, spinner), into twelve times ten fields. The resulting almost square fields all show one imaginative open rosette. Although there are no repetitions in the composure of the rosettes, the wooden ceiling is character- ised by a unified character.

On a closer look the Lichtenstein crest catches the eye - the wooden ceiling was donated by Georg von Lichtenstein - with 1534 as a year's date. However it is advisable - not only to prevent a stiff neck - to view the wooden ceiling through a mirror.

3 The process of selection of the churches

First of all all churches with relations to the time of medieval were identified by historians.

The Regional Working Group created a priority of the churches and a route connecting them.

The route should symbolise a pearl necklace ("Pearls of the Mur valley") with main beads, from which the remaining (smaller) ones can also be visited. This chain will be fixed between two excellent monumental ecclesiastical total artworks: Seckau Abbey and the Mon- astery of St. Lambrecht. Therewith the impression of a chain rises the churches are connected by footpaths. Unfortunately the two small churches, St. Cecilia/Bodendorf and St. Ulrich/Krakauhinter- mühlen, only open at certain times. Therefore, they could not be installed in the app "The Golden Cathedral". Instead, the churches of St. George/Murau and St. Oswald in Kraukau- dorf were selected additionally.

Map of church route Blue lines: existing and marked pilgrimage ways Red lines: additional connections (marked alpine footpaths)

4 Regional strategy

4.1 Introduction The medieval characteristic of the churches within the route is a link between these monuments and the local traditions with the major international trends of spirituality, mysticism and pilgrimage. The local traditions with medieval roots should be part of a yearly program of the church-route. The existing pilgrimage-routes are linked to the Thetris-church-route and the churches. Additionally special pilgrimage-routes could be created with a focus on special trends: silence & contemplation, self-discovery, nature, … Existing medieval texts, songs and music (of the region, of monastery St. Lambrecht, Seckau, …) could be offered as a special possibility to explore medieval spirituality (especially in the monasteries) and mysticism. Positioning should be for persons inside and outside traditional churches.

4.2 Vision The inhabitants of the region are proud of their cultural heritage in the shape of medieval churches (and other monuments) and vital customs. These costums are shown in the life of parishes, municipalities and other communities. They are preserving and developing the cultural heritage and like to present it to more and more visitors. Especially young people should be a target group as well among the inhabitants of the region as among the visitors.

4.3 Strategic approach To anchor the transnational church route in the region effectively, we strongly recommend the following strategies:  Links from Thetris-project with the already existing, almost touristic initiatives and projects, especially with the thematic routes of the region.  Creation of special possibilities for people of the parishes of the elected churches and for people of “Medieval-Associations” (Judenburg, Oberzeiring, …) to take part in the project, to design some local features and activities within the “local Thetris” and above all to be re- sponsible for their role and their church within the whole Thetris-Project.  Selection of the most important players of the region for assigning them a special function in the project, for example as advisory council or something like that. Although they have no resources to get into the Thetris-project, local politicians, active citizens and others are important multipliers for the project.  Organization of activities to acquire local sponsorships by the greater und local well-known companies (Murauer Bier, …) to get a local brand/identity.  Positioning of the Church-route as a module within the offers of tourism of the region.  Ensuring the acceptance and identification in the region by the involvement of the population and of opinion-makers in the selection of churches and design of the route.  Offering of activities along the Church-route and using of the APP both for the local population as well as for visitors/tourists.  Connection to the existing regional structures, initiatives and projects in the church, tourist and private sectors (eg associations).  Ensuring sustainability by linking it to existing structures in the region (including networks, etc.).

4.4 Goals of the strategy

Announcement of the church-route and the APP by existing channels (websites, leaflets, bro- chures, ...) of public, religious and tourist facilities. Involvement / use of the church-route and the APP in public, church, tourist and activities of associations especially for young people (schools, parish, ...). Consultation and planning activities (especially in relation to the church-route and the APP) in a network, roundtable, calendar of events, etc. Providing and / or acquiring of resources (material resources, finance, personnel) for the post- production of material and possible extensions.

4.5 Members/Participants of the Regional Working Group

Pater Gerwig Romirer Benediktinerstift St. Lambrecht Hermann Hartleb Landtagsabgeordneter, Bürgermeister St. Georgen/Judenburg Rosa Hojas Pastorale Regionalreferentin Dekanat Murau Dekanatsadministrator Murau, Pfarrer in Niederwölz, Scheifling, Ronald Ruthofer St.Lorenzen ob Scheifling und Teufenbach Gerhard Hofbauer Diözese Graz-Seckau Martina Linzer Diözese Graz-Seckau Johann Fussi Pfarrer in St. Georgen ob Murau Bibiane Puhl ROW GmbH Barbara Retter Marktgemeinde Seckau Simone Doler LAG Zirbenland Maria Elfriede Auer Holzwelt Murau Walter Leitner Georgsverein Herbert Mitterfellner Georgsverein Maria Sulzbacher Georgsverein Harald Berger Benediktinerabtei Seckau Regionale Jugendreferentin Dekanate Murau, Judenburg und Ulrike Plöschberger Knittelfeld Pastorale Regionalreferentin Dekanate Judenburg und Knittel- Gertraud Peinhopf feld Simon Pletz Bürgermeister Seckau Werner Stiller TV Krakauebene Bernd Pfandl TV Zirbenland Florian Schnabl Holzwelt Murau Josef Bärnthaler LAG Zirbenland Manuela Hanser Urlaubsregion Murtal Christian Reiner LAG Wirtschaftleben Erich Fritz Holzwelt Murau Peter Donabauer Naturpark Zirbitzkogel Grebenzen Werner Fest Burgverein Steinschloß Carmen Mohorn TV Steir.Zirbenland Dekanatsadministrator Judenburg, Pfarrer in Pöls, Oberzeiring Heimo Schäfmann und St. Johann am Tauern

4.6 Actions foreseen

Programming of the APP in IOS (for iphones) Sending packages of regional products to the first 100 visitors, who will reach the Golden Cathe- dral in the App Placing of Geo-Caches or Spiri-Caches Organizing of a church-route-ralley Organizing a “Medieval Day” in cooperation with the associations in Judenburg and Oberzeiring (an own program in and around each church - music, songs, clothes, food, ...) Presentation of the Church-route on the websites of the affected parishes and communities

4.7 Timeframes The strategy will be finalized in June 2014. It will be signed by the local/regional stakeholders in July 2014.

4.8 Budget/financial resources Regional Products and vouchers for the first 100 packages will be collected by the ROW GmbH. They also will send it to the players.

4.9 Possible sources of funding

4.9.1 Public Funding Funding by the government of Styria (or EU-fundings) for programming the APP “The Golden Ca- thedral” for iphones (IOS).

4.9.2 Sponsoring

Each destination is accompanied by a sponsor.

Potential sponsors are: Murauer beer, insurances, banks, Towns, Wood World, "The Week" newspaper, ...

The possible responsibilities of the sponsor are:  Establishment of a panel at the church with the most important information. Panel (made of wood!) is paid by sponsor. Sponsor also has the ability to accommodate his LOGO.  Publication of 2-4-sided folders with lots of information about each church and of course about the sponsor.  Acquisition cost of the training of one church guide. If possible the church guide could also come from the workforce of the sponsor.  Possibly an additional a small base amount to cover the base costs.

Possible return for sponsors:  Mentioned in all written presentations  Annual great hiking of Friends of the Church Tour  Each sponsor has "his" church  ...

5 Statement of commitment and signatures

Statement of Commitment Erklärung über Beteiligung We, the undersigned representatives of the local Wir, die unterzeichnenden Vertreter der be- community of Obersteiermark, affirm that we are treffenden, örtlichen Kommunitäten in der familiar with and support the Regional Obersteiermark bestätigen, dass wir den regi- Sustainability Plan of Obersteiermark, which onalen Nachhaltigkeitsplan in der Region was developed in the framework of the Obersteiermark kennen und unterstützen. European project THETRIS - Development of Dieser wurde im Rahmen des europäischen International Thematic Church Route in Projekts THETRIS entwickelt und betrifft die Cooperation with Local Communities. Thematische Kirchenroute und die nachhaltige Zusammenarbeit mit den lokalen Gemeinden.

Place / Ort: Date / Datum:

Signature(s) / Unterschriften:

Harald Berger Peter Donabauer

Hermann Hartleb Simon Pletz

Bibiane Puhl Christian Reiner

P. Gerwig Romirer Ronald Ruthofer

Florian Schnabl

11.