Pömmelte. A special anniversary is just around the corner! On Sunday, 21 June, the Salzlandkreis district will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Pömmelte ring sanctuary on the summer solstice. A ceremony is planned with all partners, supporters and sponsors, as well as a free programme for families lasting into the evening. Guided tours will also be offered. The district administration has been preparing for this special day for months.
District Administrator Markus Bauer says: "The reconstruction of this Stone Age site is a success story. After ten years, we can say that people meet there to socialise, just like they did 4300 years ago." This is why the ring sanctuary has now become a nationally and internationally recognised site that attracts tourists and history buffs alike. The Ring Shrine is one of the Heavenly Paths, which include five extraordinary places in Saxony-Anhalt whose prehistoric sites invite visitors to travel back thousands of years.
The importance of the ring shrine is also reflected in the official visitor numbers. Around 350,000 people have now visited the site between Schönebeck and Barby. "Thanks to the offers in the region, this is pure economic promotion," says Markus Bauer. The Salzland Museum in Schönebeck, which has a permanent exhibition on the finds from the millennia-old cult site, also benefits from the visitors. In this context, District Administrator Markus Bauer thanks all those involved for the joint development of the site, which is now known as the German Stonehenge. "We have achieved a lot thanks to the diverse support." This also includes the tourist information centre built from clay, which has set new standards.
The ten-year anniversary ceremony with around 300 invited guests will take place on the morning of 21 June. There will also be a look back at the past ten years. The family programme with corresponding activities starts at 5 pm at the Ring Shrine, according to Gunhild Watermann, the head of the relevant department. There will be a puppet theatre, creative stands and pottery courses. Children can have their faces painted, explore the grounds and let off steam on a bouncy castle. The programme will be accompanied by music from several bands on a stage.