An ambitious and unifying project, the exhibition “Our Common Heritage” in Boulaide takes an original and completely new approach to the history lived in the cross-border territories of the Greater Region, whose imprint still marks the current geopolitical context.
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Exploring our history: an immersive and participatory experience
This exhibition offers to immerse oneself in the key events of these decades of the 20th century that shaped Europe while highlighting the local history of the Greater Region whose perimeter extends over 4 countries: Belgium, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Germany and France.
“Our Common Heritage” thus traces the experience of the populations in the cross-border territories from the Belle Epoque to the creation of Europe.
This cross-reading of our history in the Greater Region is unprecedented and original.
Giant photo albums provide visitors with international historical landmarks before showing how civilian and military life in the Grande Région has evolved over the decades, highlighting our similarities and differences.
The immersive experience, offered in a converted container, gives way to strong emotion thanks to the sound and visual universe created for this extraordinary historical retrospective.
Practical information
The open air exhibition is installed permanently in Boulaide.
In front of the municipality, “Our Common Heritage” can be visited free of charge.
It is open from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and from Saturday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
Address: 3, rue de la Mairie L-9640 Boulaide
Plan your visit
The exhibition consists of 5 exhibition modules in the form of Photo Albums and an immersive experience to be discovered inside a closed unit constituting a tour route.
This last space and these giant albums complement each other to create a unique visit!
The photo albums form the body of the scenography and are organised around a container which offers a spectacular and immersive dimension. Through sound and image, you enter the history of the Greater Region divided into 5 major periods:
ALBUM 1: The Pre-World War I From the beginning of the 20th century to the outbreak of the war, in August 1914.
ALBUM 2: The First World War From August 4, 1914 to the Armistice of November 11, 1918.
ALBUM 3: The Between World Wars From November 11, 1918 to September 1, 1939 (invasion of Poland by the German army).
ALBUM 4: World War II September 1, 1939 to May 8, 1945 (surrender of Germany).
ALBUM 5: After World War II and the beginnings of European integration From May 8, 1945 to the first European treaties
This free exhibition is accessible to everyone, including people with reduced mobility (PRM).
A quiz to stimulate your curiosity during your visit to the exhibition can be found here:
Resources for teachers
In order to help teachers to best prepare their visits to this exhibition, the project partners wished to provide them with a pedagogical manual. This includes worksheets that can be downloaded and distributed to students during the visit and that will help them, in a fun and participatory way, to understand the topics discussed in the exhibition.
To integrate this exhibition into a wider discovery of the destination, ask the group department for advice! Land of Memory Groups organises tailor-made trips to suit every budget and desire. A totally free service!
Other tools can also support and complete the pedagogical approach, to learn and dive into history in an original and playful way:
- „Before the War“, the exciting board game of Land of Memory: the players are each in charge of a European country and must make choices and alliances. The balance of the world depends on it. This historical strategy and management game provides a better understanding of the issues and mechanisms involved in wars. The scenarios are inspired by real historical situations.
- Experience Land of Memory with a storytelling website: we discover the journey of four student filmmakers and their teacher who follow in the footsteps of their forefathers in the Land of Memory. We dive into history through their different points of view, to better understand the events of our past.
Photos: @Land of Memory / Caroline Martin