Evangelical church choir explores the star city of Fulda

Evangelical church choir explores the star city of Fulda

The Steinau Protestant church choir recently went on a discovery tour of Fulda, the first star city in Germany, and the trip had a lot to offer. With around 30 members, the singers set out to experience the fascinating combination of culture and nature. In an exciting planetarium visit under the motto “Off to space”, they learned how important the starry sky is and what effects light pollution has on our environment. The lecturer presented both real and imaginary constellations, which amazed the participants.

After the informative demonstration, the excursionists went to a well-deserved refreshment with home-style food. Strengthened, they made their way to Fulda Cathedral, which is often referred to as the little brother of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The founders of the Fulda Church, the missionaries Bonifatius and Sturmius, are depicted on the impressive facade of the cathedral. During a guided tour, the participants learned interesting facts about the history of the Roman Catholic diocese of Fulda, which made the visit even more interesting.

Fulda as a star city

Fulda was designated a Star City for the first time in spring 2019 and has since applied for provisional status with the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) to take significant steps to reduce light pollution. This is not only important for citizens' quality of life, but could also boost astro-tourism. Dr. IDA's Barentine emphasizes that awareness of the value of darkness is growing strikingly in the region. The Rhön, known as the Dark Sky Reserve, supports Fulda in this endeavor.

One of the biggest advantages of this award is the opportunity to adapt the city's approximately 8,500 public lights to the new criteria. Thanks to a new policy, the city plans to minimize light pollution and promote energy-saving measures that will benefit both private developers and businesses. RhönEnergie Fulda has already converted over 500 old town lights to environmentally friendly LED lights, which leads to significant energy savings. Between 10:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. the lights are dimmed by an impressive 50 percent, saving around 80,000 kWh per year.

On the trail of history

After visiting the cathedral, the choir members continued to the baroque city palace of Fulda, which is also known as the “Fuldian Versailles”. Here the excursionists gained insights into the courtly life of the prince abbots and prince-bishops in the early 18th century. The combination of education and enjoyment made the trip an unforgettable experience. The day finally ended with a delicious coffee break before the group began the return journey by train. In short, this trip to Fulda was not only a step into the stars, but also a journey through the history and culture of a remarkable city.