Anhalt University of Applied Sciences invites you to the traditional hike to the "Waladala" training and experimental vineyard in Bernburg. The event will take place on the Wednesday before Pentecost, June 4, 2025. The hike begins at 4 p.m. and will start from St. Nicolai Church in Breite Straße this year due to construction work. All interested parties - whether students, citizens or wine lovers - are welcome to join the walk to the vineyard.
Accompanied by colorfully decorated vintage tractors, in monk costumes, traditional peasant costumes or as winegrowers, students, instructors and employees of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences create a lively and colorful parade. On foot, by bike or on a people carrier, the procession crosses the Flutbrücke bridge up to the "Waladala" vineyard. Along the way, the university reminds visitors of the historical significance of Breite Straße as Bernburg's old main shopping street with herbs and rhubarb cake.
On the vineyard - see, taste and research
Once at the top of the vineyard, guests can expect a special combination of scenic beauty, culinary delights and scientific practice. The vineyard garages, redesigned by the university's Administration, now offer good conditions for research and teaching - with technical rooms, a tasting area and a project room.
"With the new facilities, we are creating the ideal prerequisites for combining practical teaching and applied research, as well as for hosting interesting events on wine culture," says Sabine Thalmann, Director of Central Administration at the university. The water supply was also rethought as part of the redesign: rainwater collected on the roofs flows into several cisterns and is fed from there directly to the irrigation trials. The focus is on two grape varieties, on which the influence of continuous irrigation on yield and quality is being investigated.
Research is also being conducted between the individual plots: "We have three different plots: In addition to grass strips, mulch strips, there are several variants with wild plants," explains Prof. Orzessek, who regrets the vineyard. Soil sensors are used to research which vegetation is best at retaining soil moisture - at the same time, the flowering strips ensure a very high biodiversity of plants, insects, butterflies and other microorganisms. Visitors can find out what experience has been gained so far with near-natural row planting with wild plants directly on site at the Nature Conservation and Landscape Planning study area.
Enjoy science - with wine, music and regional specialties
Those who want to know what science tastes like will also get their money's worth: the food technology center from Campus Köthen as well as the wine laboratory and the teaching and experimental distillery from Campus Bernburg will present their work on the vineyard. The "Weinbaufreunde Bernburg" will be presenting their cultivation of the "Blauer Bernburger" and, together with the Winzer-Mühle from Crüchern, will be inviting visitors to a tasting.
The band "M'accord" and the Ukrainian student group "Nadija je" will provide atmospheric musical accompaniment. "You can enjoy the special view over the town in a convivial atmosphere with wine, home-distilled schnapps and hearty food," says Orzessek. A shuttle to St. Nicolai Church is available for the return journey.
The teaching and experimental vineyard is a joint project between the university and the city administration to revive the old wine-growing tradition in the lower Saale valley. In the immediate vicinity is the Romanesque church of St. Stephani - a certificate of medieval architecture and an integral part of the "Romanesque Road". The result is a special place where history, modern research, nature and culture come together.
More information:
www.hs-anhalt.de/waladala
