Open Monument Day Speyer

Nationwide Opening 2026 in Speyer

The Open Monument Day is coordinated annually by the German Foundation for Monument Protection and takes place nationwide on the second Sunday in September. The location for the nationwide opening changes annually — in 2026, this honor falls to Speyer, a city with two UNESCO World Heritage sites (Cathedral and SchUM-Judenhof) and one of the richest monument landscapes in Southern Germany.

Motto: True Signs. Witnesses of History

The 2026 motto — 'True Signs. Witnesses of History' — refers to the identity-forming function of monuments as testimonies of past eras. Monuments are not just architecture, but narratives — stories of builders, craftspeople, political constellations, religious currents, and technical possibilities. The motto invites us to look behind the facade.

Construction Sites at the Cathedral and Holy Trinity Church

Special attractions include insights into the ongoing restoration construction sites at Speyer Cathedral and Holy Trinity Church. Both buildings are currently undergoing conservation work — at the Cathedral, stone elements are regularly renovated, while at Holy Trinity Church, historical wall paintings are the focus. On Open Monument Day, stonemasons and restorers will be on-site demonstrating their work live — a rare opportunity to experience conservation work up close.

Market of Opportunities on Maximilianstraße

On Maximilianstraße — the central axis of Speyer's old town between Altpörtel and the Cathedral — the 'Market of Opportunities' will take place. Associations, initiatives, workshops, and craftspeople from the monument preservation sector will present themselves at stalls, offering discussions, demonstrations, and advice. The spectrum ranges from stonemasonry workshops and woodcarvers to restorers, foundations, citizens' initiatives, and support organizations.

Grundton-D Concert in the Memorial Church

The event will conclude with a Grundton-D concert in the Memorial Church of the Protestant Reformation in Speyer. The 'Grundton D' concert series by Deutschlandfunk Kultur regularly takes place in endangered architectural monuments — the concert proceeds go directly to their preservation. Speyer's Memorial Church is one of the most significant Neo-Gothic church buildings in Southern Germany and thus a worthy venue for such a concert.