Traces of Unsleben 2026 – Discovering Unsleben’s Jewish History Together
In 2026, we launched something special in Unsleben: With the project “Reconnect Unsleben” we want to rediscover the Jewish history of our village together and bring it to life – openly, warmly, and in a way that is accessible to everyone.
For many generations, Jewish families lived in the heart of Unsleben. Much of this is hardly known today, even though traces and memories can be found throughout the village. This is precisely where we want to begin: We want to tell stories, explain, listen – and understand Unsleben’s history once again as part of our own present.
Reconnect Unsleben – Spurensuche – Program for Participants
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 6:00 PM
Castle Garden and Rote Stallung
Welcome reception and opening of the exhibition
We warmly welcome you to the castle garden, where the gathering begins in an open and relaxed atmosphere.
Members of the association, the mayor of Unsleben, as well as regional representatives and local residents will welcome you personally.
In the Rote Stallung, the accompanying exhibition will be opened, offering insights into the history of Jewish life in Unsleben and setting the tone for the days ahead.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
10:00 AM – Guided tour of the Jewish cemetery in Unsleben
Meeting point: Jewish cemetery
The day begins with a shared walk through the Jewish cemetery — a place of memory, continuity, and quiet reflection. The guided tour offers insights into history, tradition, and the lives connected to this place.
12:00 PM – Lunch in the castle garden
A shared meal in a relaxed and welcoming setting
1:00 PM – Departure for Berkach (meeting point: castle courtyard)
Guided visit in Berkach
The Jewish ensemble in Berkach is one of the most remarkable preserved sites in the region. Synagogue, Mikveh, school, and cemetery form a rare and powerful historical unity, offering a vivid sense of a once vibrant community.
4:00 PM – Quilt gathering
Synagogue / Dorfscheuer Unsleben
Together, a shared remembrance quilt will take shape. Participants are invited to contribute in their own way — through fabrics, symbols, or thoughts — creating a collective expression of memory and connection.
Cake will be provided; drinks will be organized on site.
More detailed guidance will be provided upon request in advance.
7:00 PM – Evening gathering and dinner at the castle
Members of the working group “Jüdisches Unsleben,” part of the association Freundeskreis Wasserschloss Unsleben e.V., come together with guests from near and far for a shared evening at the castle.
The evening includes a dinner hosted by the association and by Graf and Gräfin Waldburg, creating a setting for encounter, conversation, and connection.
At its heart is a personal exchange — an opportunity to reflect together on what brings us here and what continues to guide us:
Why do we do what we do?
Thursday, May 28, 2026
9:30 AM – Village walk
Meeting point: castle courtyard
The walk leads through Unsleben to places where Jewish life once unfolded — former homes, businesses, and sites of everyday coexistence. It brings together visible traces and remembered stories.
11:00 AM – Family histories (morning session)
Meeting point: castle garden
Personal memories and family stories open windows into individual lives, marked by departure, loss, continuity, and return.
12:30 PM – Lunch in the castle garden
2:00 PM – Departure for Kleinbardorf (meeting point: castle courtyard)
The Jewish cemetery in Kleinbardorf, one of the largest in Bavaria, is a place of layered history. Set within an ancient ring wall, it invites reflection on time, memory, and the endurance of community.
5:30 PM – Family histories (afternoon session)
Meeting point: castle garden
Further personal accounts deepen the shared experience and build bridges between past and present.
6:30 PM – End of the program
7:30 PM – Joint dinner at the “Krone-Schenke”