The first edition of the Shrines of Europe International Cultural Festival, Częstochowa 27-28 May 2023
Is it possible to explore all 7 Shrines of Europe cities in one weekend? The distances on the map say: Nope… Not unless you have seven-league boots. But that's only in fairy tales...
But wait! Yes, it's possible! On the last weekend of May in Częstochowa, when the International Shrines of Europe Festival was held, hundreds of spectators: residents of Częstochowa, tourists and pilgrims got to know better all the 7 cities sanctuaries.
Thanks to the outdoor performances of artists from Częstochowa, Altötting, Ourem-Fatima, Mariazell and Lourdes, and the efforts of all partners, we tried to show the culture and characteristics of our cities, regions and countries.
Traditional Bavarian melodies performed by young musicians from Kapellplatz Musikanten, pieces of music straight from the Austrian Alps presented by the family band Zeller Musi, a recital by Ana Galiczak & Marcin Strojec, Polish songs from the interwar period rediscovered by Makabunda, classical music performed by the Częstochowa String Quartet, a modern dance performance showing the eternal ratio of good and evil presented by young dancers of MDM Compagnie, the full of passion Portuguese fado, enchanted by Delfina Henriques with the band, or the colorful regional folklore performed by the Song and Dance Ensemble “Częstochowa” - all these elements were there to create an amazing multifaceted wholeness!
During the Festival, a traveling photography exhibition "Shrines of Europe - the path of culture and spirituality" was inaugurated, which can be seen in Częstochowa until the end of August, also the exhibition of paintings prepared especially for this occasion by artists from Częstochowa "Art in culture - Culture in art" was presented. In the meantime, cinema-goers could get to know the Fatima revelation better thanks to the open screening of the film "Fatima".
The Festival was characterized by huge diversity of styles, cultures, languages, aesthetics, which created from this event a multidimensional proof that the language of art is a universal language of emotions that we can pass on despite the customs, history and traditions that are different in each country.
It was just an extraordinary cultural weekend! We hope that the Festival is just the beginning of the new Shrines of Europe tradition and we plan the next edition to take place next year in Portugal.
Please feel invited!
