Social Programme

Ice Breaker Reception

Monday June 30, 19:30-20:30, Hyatt Regency Cologne

Welcome Reception

Tuesday July 1, 18:30-20:30, Historic Town Hall, Cologne

Conference Banquet

Wednesday July 2, 19:00-23:00, aboard MS RheinEnergie

Additional tickets for the conference banquet can be ordered online at a price of 70 € ("Additional Conference Dinner Ticket"). See also "Fees and Services".
Ordered tickets will be issued at the conference desk during the conference.

Guided Tours: Organisation

The full-day tours into the neighbourhood of Cologne will have a very personal character and are organized by Dorothea Koch, Nancy Streit, Julia Laas, and Jane Stannus.
Please register at the reception desk for the tours, which will start from the conference hotel.

Lunch and coffee & cake have to be paid for individually in the restaurants.

Guided Tour: Tuesday

Maria Laach Abbey

(in German: Abtei Maria Laach) is an ancient Benedictine abbey located in the Eifel hills, on the south-western shore of the Laacher See, a beautiful blue crater lake formed by a volcanic eruption around 10 000 years ago. A wonderful view of it can be had only a short walk away from the abbey parking area.
Maria Laach was founded in 1093 by Heinrich II, Count Palatine of the Rhine, who had no children and so devoted what would have been a dowry to the construction of a monastery. The abbey is a true masterpiece of German Romanesque architecture. Among the many artistic jewels to be seen at Maria Laach are Heinrich II’s tomb, an Early Gothic monument covered in paintings of monks and abbots; the 16th-century frescoes of St. Benedict and St. Christopher; and of course the wonderful and unusual Paradise Portal, which was designed by the mason Laacher Samson-Meister or “Master of the Laach Samson” in the 13th century. Maria Laach is still in use as a monastery, where Benedictine monks live a life of prayer apart from the world, assembling five times a day in the church for the service (officium). Lunch will be in the historic cloister restaurant.

Burg Eltz

is a medieval castle nestled in the hills above the Moselle River between Koblenz and Trier. It is still owned by descendants of the same family that lived there in the 12th century, 33 generations ago.
Burg Eltz looks exactly like a fairy-tale castle, with its many turrets, tiny windows, and formidable ramparts. A cross section of eight hundred years of history is reflected in the layout and architecture of the rooms. All the architectural styles from the Romanesque to the early Baroque merge in Burg Eltz to form a symmetrical whole. Inside, weapons, armour, wonderful paintings, and exquisite furniture are on show, making one of the most famous castles in Germany a true pleasure to explore. Coffee will be in the romantic castle garden.

Guided Tour: Wednesday

A personal guided tour to Cologne, the Cathedral and the Romanesque churches

The city of Cologne contains one of the most impressive cathedrals in Europe, which in its turn houses one of the greatest pilgrim attractions of the medieval world, namely the relics of the Three Wise Men, also known as the Three Kings. Cologne Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, and the largest free-hanging bell in the world swings in its bell tower.

Twelve Romanesque Churches can also be found in Cologne’s walled Old City. Severely damaged during the Second World War, they have been completely restored, and now stand witness to Cologne’s rich early medieval heritage. Among them are the church to St. Gereon, a local martyr of Roman times, and the church to St. Ursula, who is the patron of Cologne, with her legendary 11 000 virgins. Many date back to Roman times; St. Gereon’s was once a Roman chapel, and St. Ursula’s is built on a Roman graveyard. Also the grand witnesses of the Roman Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium will be part of the tour. We will have lunch and coffee in one of the beautiful historic restaurants in the old town.

Guided Tour: Thursday

Brühl: The Baroque castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust

The palaces of Augustusburg and Falkenlust in Brühl were built by the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, Clemens August of Bavaria, in the early 18th century. Magnificent specimens of Baroque architecture, the two palaces are connected by the lovely Schlosspark gardens that were inspired by Louis XIV’s Versailles. Augustusburg is the main palace, while Falkenlust is more of a hunting lodge and was one of the Archbishop’s favourite summer residences. The two palaces, along with their charming Schlosspark, have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Until recently, Augustusburg was used for state receptions by the German Federal President. We will have lunch and coffee in the old Orangerie of the residence.

Suggestion for a private tour

Beethoven’s and Schumann’s Bonn

Beethoven-Haus, Straßenansicht
House of Beethoven, street view

This tour will give you a glimpse of the lives of two men who not only played a key role in the Rheinland’s cultural history, but also had a significant influence on the entire world of music: Beethoven and Schumann. Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, and lived there until his early twenties. The house where he grew up has now been turned into a museum containing many of his instruments and letters. There is also a monument to him on the city square.
Robert Schumann, another great German composer, spent the last two years of his life in Bonn and died here. His grave is in the famous Alter Friedhof (Old Cemetery) in downtown Bonn, beside that of his wife Clara, who herself was an internationally acclaimed concert pianist. His Carnaval seemed an appropriate selection for Dr. Klemm to play at the Welcome Ceremony
of FUSION 2008. Information and advice will be provided on request at the registration desk. Perhaps, the thursday tour can be extended by a trip to Bonn.

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