Hidden Treasures in Bildstock — Discovering Homeland (World Tourist Guide Day)

World Tourist Guide Day — what's it all about?

World Tourist Guide Day has been celebrated annually since 1990 by the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) on February 21st — in recognition of the work of qualified tour guides worldwide. In Germany, the Federal Association of Tourist Guides in Germany (BVGD) organizes free or discounted themed tours on this occasion. In Saarland, the Friedrichsthal region particularly showcases an unusual treasure: the small Bildstock.

Bildstock — the name is no coincidence

The place name Bildstock goes back to a late medieval legend: a pilgrim on his way back from Einsiedeln in Switzerland is said to have placed a statue of Mary in a hollow tree. The Bildstock — literally "stock with an image" — became a place of pilgrimage, and the village grew around it. Today, Bildstock is a district of Friedrichsthal and represents the Saarland's mix of Catholic tradition and mining history.

The Rechtsschutzsaal — a piece of workers' history

The highlight of the tour is the Rechtsschutzsaal, built in 1900 by the miners' benefit association. It is considered the oldest preserved trade union building in Germany — a symbol of the struggle of Saarland miners for labor rights. Anyone who enters the high, unadorned rooms understands a piece of Saarland identity that is not found in any travel guide. The hall has been used as a cultural space by a support association since the 1980s.

Tour Guide Wolfgang Willems

Wolfgang Willems is a regular fixture in the Saarland tour guide scene. His Bildstock tour lasts about two hours and combines local history, mining memories, and small anecdotes — an ideal event for anyone who wants to get to know the Saarland off the beaten path.

A mini-festival with a big impact

Even though World Tourist Guide Day is not a classic festival, it has become a firm fixture in the region. After the tour, participants often meet in the neighboring Café Hambro or the club house — a bit like the prelude to the Saarland season after winter.