What actually makes a good church tour?

Last weekend, I had the honor of giving a talk at the Weltenburger Gesprächskreise at the invitation of the KKV Bayern. My topic: Church, monasteries and tourism – and in particular the art of church tours. Because a visit to a church is more than just an excursion – it is a journey through history, architecture and spirituality. But how do we design such a tour so that it really touches people?

Who visits our churches and monasteries?

Before we get into the staging of a church tour, we should ask ourselves: Who are the people who come? What expectations and needs do they bring with them? Not every visitor is a believer, not everyone is interested in art history. Some are looking for spiritual inspiration, others are simply curious. Some need silence, others want to hear stories. A good guided tour recognizes this diversity and takes all participants on board – regardless of their motivation.

The art of staging – a dramaturgical structure

Guided tours of churches are not just a series of facts. They are a staginga dramaturgy that draws people in – emotionally, spiritually and aesthetically.

A perfect example of this is the Weltenburg Monastery with its impressive Asam Church. Even the first glance at the monastery on the banks of the Danube tells a story. How do we pick up the visitors here? Do we start outside with the historical significance of the place? Or do we just let them look, marvel and feel?

And then the decisive moment: Entering the sacred space. When you step through the portal of the Asamkirche, you are overwhelmed by the baroque splendor, the light and colors, the grandeur of the architecture. But suddenly – a sign: “Please do not take photographs.”

Who actually leads? And how?

Just as important as the staging is the person of the manager. Who takes on this task?

• An art historian who concentrates on style and epochs?
• A sacristan who focuses primarily on practical matters?
• Or someone who can also provide spiritual impetus?

A church tour is not a classic city tour. It’s not just about facts, but also about atmosphere, about places of powerabout what you can’t see but can feel. A good church tour asks the right questions: What has this place given people over the centuries? What thoughts, what rituals, what longings have come together here?

What remains at the end? – The message of a church tour

Every production needs a conclusion. The big question is: What do we give people?

Do they end up standing in front of a a desk full of flyersthat merely provide Wikipedia knowledge in printed form? Or do we ask them to think? Can we dismiss them with an open question, with a moment of silence or perhaps even with a common prayer?

Church tours are an opportunity not only to impart knowledge, but also to to touch people – intellectually, emotionally and perhaps even spiritually. They are a bridge between past and present, between art and faith, between tourism and personal experience.

The challenge is to design them in such a way that everyone can be piece of inspiration goes home with a piece of inspiration.

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