Day of the Megalithic Culture, AEAT Portugal

Day of Megalithic Culture in Albersdorf, Deutschland

On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the International “Day of Megalithic Culture” will also take place in the Dithmarschen Stone Age Park in Albersdorf.

On this occasion, two guided tours will start at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, led by Dr. Rüdiger Kelm from the museum. These tours will lead into the Stone Age Park to the impressive megalithic tombs, with a focus on the theme of ritual and ritualized landscapes of the Stone Age.

The meeting point for these special tours, which are included in the admission to the Stone Age Park, is the entrance of the “Steinzeithaus” museum.

For over ten years, the “European Route of Megalithic Culture,” certified by the Council of Europe, has organized this Europe-wide event, which highlights the continent’s oldest preserved architecture. Further information and dates can be found at

Day of the Megalithic Culture – Passage Graves and Rituals, April 26th, Falbygden, Sweden

Welcome to a day where we focus on the Stone Age of Falbygden. Did you know that Falköping is unique in both Sweden and Europe? Nowhere else have so many ancient monuments been preserved right in the middle of the town, among streets, houses, and buildings. Follow the digital quiz walk and discover our town’s unique cultural heritage. Book your spot for the guided tour.

Digital quiz walk
Walk or cycle the digital quiz trail through prehistoric Falköping and discover your cultural heritage right in the heart of the town. Start at the museum and get a chance to win great prizes.

Guided tour
Begin or finish the quiz walk with a guided tour about the Stone Age of Falbygden—burial customs and rituals. We will present objects from the museum’s collections.

-At Falbygdens Museum from 2:00 PM to approximately 3:00 PM.

European Day of Megalithic Culture ‘Megalithic tombs as part of a ritual landscape’

The Wildeshausen Prehistory Centre is offering a cycle tour to archaeological sites south of Wildeshausen. In keeping with this year’s theme, Dr Julia Koch, Director of the UZW, will lead the group not only to selected Neolithic tombs, but also to neighbouring monuments from the later Bronze and Iron Ages. She will explain how these are connected, together with Michael Wesemann, Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, who will be waiting for the group in Colnrade next to the Beckstedt Sun Stone. There will also be cakes and drinks available to refresh the cyclists.

The route is approximately 25 km long and is also suitable for children. The meeting point for the cycle tour is at 12 noon on the forecourt of the UZW; the return is scheduled for 5 pm. The tour costs €15, concessions €10; drinks and cake are included. Please register by email (kontakt@uzw-wildeshausen.de) or by telephone (+49 4431 751170).

Winkelsett-Reckum (Lkr. Oldenburg), Sprockhoff Nr. 811 (Foto: J. Koch, UZW)

University of Kiel – The European Day of Megalithic Culture 2026

University of Kiel – The European Day of Megalithic Culture on April 26 2026

The monumental landscape of Dithmarschen

Excursion of the ERC XScape workshop to the Stone Age Park Dithmarschen in Albersdorf.

A six-day workshop focusing on the social visibility of landscapes and monuments in prehistory was organized by the ERC XScape from 16^th to 21^st March at the University of Kiel. As part of the workshop, an excursion to the Stone Age Park Dithmarschen in Albersdorf took place on 18^th March, where the participants were able to experience the monumental landscape of the Neolithic in the area.

Dr. Rüdiger Kelm, Director of the Stone Age Park, guided the group through the park grounds as well as the permanent exhibition and explained the distinctive features of the area in its past.

The visit of the park was followed by a bus tour to seek out important monuments of the region like the polygonal dolmen ‘Brutkamp’ as well as the causeway enclosure ‘Dieksknöll’ and to discuss their visibility in the cultural landscape of the early to middle Neolithic period.

The program also included a visit of the passage grave of Bunsoh, that features a cup-marked stone as a capstone of the tomb. The presence of the mayor Rainer Plähn as well as two representatives of the municipality of Bunsoh gave room to discuss the preservation as well as visualization of monuments in today’s world and the challenges associated with that mission. The cup-marked stone of Bunsoh, which is made of sandstone, has been subject of several debates concerning preservation or replication of cultural heritage, as it suffers greatly from weather conditions.

More information see https://www.uni-kiel.de/en/cluster-roots/details/news/2026-03-30-monumental-landscape-of-dithmarschen

XSCAPE-PI Prof. Dr. Johannes Müller (left) discussing the connection between monuments and landscape with participants with the polygonal dolmen ‘Brutkamp’ as a specific example.

Dr. Rüdiger Kelm (right) along with the major and two representatives of the municipality of Bunsoh (not pictured) discussed the current challenges in the preservation of prehistoric monuments in the landscape.

The participants of the excursion in the exhibition hall of the Stone Age Park Dithmarschen

General Assembly Megalithic Routes 2026 in Viseu Portugal

The General Assembly of the Megalithic Routes 2026 took place this year in Viseu, Portugal. From Tuesday, March 31 to Thursday, April 2, a full and engaging program was organised. The schedule included the General Assembly meeting, a guided excursion through Viseu, lectures, and several field trips in the surrounding region. Among the highlights was a visit to the famous Dolmen of Antelas, where remarkable 6,000-year-old paintings can be admired.

During the General Assembly, a significant portion of the board was renewed. Several members had completed their maximum terms, including Chairman Rudiger Kelm and Vice-Chairman Harrie Wolters. The newly appointed board members include Chairman Antonio Faustino Carvalho from Portugal and Secretary Hervé Duval-Gatignol from Jersey. Mats Rosen, formerly Secretary, has taken on the role of Vice-Chairman, while Vera Brieske continues as Treasurer.

The participants of the General Assembly

The General Assembly

Rui Gomez congratulates the new president of Megalithic Routes António Faustino Carvaloh

The participants of the excursion

The new board with on the left Vera Brieske, second on the left Hervé Duval-Gatignol, second on the right Mats Rosen, right Antonio Faustino Carvalho.

Lectures

Citytour in Viseu

Enjoying Viseu

Next General assembly in Viseu, Portugal March 31 till April 2.

The program for this years General Assembly of Megalithic Routes in Cooperation with the Intermunicipal Community of Viseu Dão Lafões (CIMVDL) in the city of Viseu is complete.

More information about the area – https://rotademegalitismo.visitviseudaolafoes.pt/rota/rota-de-megalitismo/

In Denmark at Djursland (Jutland) restorations took place on the megalithic monuments. This restorations were done by the Center for Kulturarv

In 2019 The Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces had to close off the Hoed-passage grave, a 5000 years old burial mound, because foxes and badgers had undermined the stone construction and because some large trees were destroying the passage grave. One of the trees grew directly at the entrance to the passage grave – so it was easy to get into the grave chamber but difficult to get out. Therefore, the Danish agency for Culture and Palaces, in collaboration with Museum Østjylland and Morsø Skov- & Naturservice carried out a restoration of the passage grave.

The large trees were cut down, waste from recent centuries was removed from the entrance and chamber. Likewise, the damage from the animals was repaired, so that the stone construction is safe again. During the restoration, it was also discovered that the burial was rebuilt – perhaps in the Bronze Age. At that time some of the big cover stone and curb stone was placed in front of the entrance with some smaller stones. Also the shape and size of the mound was changed.

During the work, there were a lot of local people and turists. The re-opening of the Hoed-passage grave will be celebrated at The European Day of Megalithic Culture 18^th April 2026 where there will be an event and it will be possible to visit the grave chamber.

Meeting of representatives of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europa, 22 October 2025 in Cappadocia in Türkiye

On Wednesday 22 October 2025 the meeting of the 14th Advisary Forum on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe took place in Hotel Marriott Cappadocia in Türkiye. Our manager Dr. Ursula Warnke attended the meeting on behalf of Megalithic Routes.