Joint declaration on the future of Stiftsberg signed

On Monday 23 March 2026, Mayor Frank Ruch and Reverend Eva-Maria Menard signed a joint declaration on the continuation and further development of their cooperation in the town hall’s banquet hall.

By signing this agreement, both partners are reaffirming their long-standing, trusting partnership and setting out their shared commitment to continuing to manage the Stiftsberg in a responsible and forward-looking manner. The aim is to preserve the unique ensemble comprising the collegiate church, the cathedral treasury and the castle museum as a coherent cultural and historical heritage site, and to enable visitors to experience it in its entirety.

The basis for this collaboration is the framework agreement on the museum-based reorientation of the Stiftsberg complex, which was concluded back in November 2020. This agreement governs, in particular, the joint planning, construction and curatorial development of the complex. The declaration now signed forms the basis for the further development of specific agreements until the complex is fully operational. The aim is to create a coordinated, high-quality visitor experience that connects the different areas of the Stiftsberg whilst simultaneously strengthening their respective profiles.

To this end, the partners aim, among other things, to ensure close coordination in visitor communications, to develop joint solutions regarding admission policies and opening hours, and to present significant cultural assets in a coordinated manner. Despite this close collaboration, both institutions remain legally and organisationally independent.

With this renewed declaration, the World Heritage town of Quedlinburg and the Protestant parish are sending a clear signal regarding their shared responsibility for one of the town’s most significant historical sites – and for its vibrant future.