Monday, 20 April 2026 – Arrival in Madrid

Early on Monday morning, our Erasmus+ project week began with our journey to Düsseldorf Airport. From there, we flew together to Madrid, where we received a warm welcome from our Spanish exchange partners. After checking into our hotel, we explored the vibrant city centre of Spain’s capital.

One of the highlights of the day was our visit to the Museo Reina Sofía, where we admired Pablo Picasso’s world-famous painting Guernica. The artwork vividly illustrates the horrors of war and the devastating consequences of violence and dictatorship. It provided a meaningful introduction to our Erasmus+ project, “Witnesses of the Past”, which focuses on remembrance, historical responsibility, and the lessons that can be learned from the dictatorships of the twentieth century. In the evening, we enjoyed a Spanish comedy show before having dinner together.

Tuesday, 21 April 2026 – Madrid and Toledo

After breakfast, we visited a radio and television station in Madrid. During a fascinating guided tour, we gained valuable insights into the work of modern media and learned how news programmes are produced and broadcast.

Later, we travelled to Toledo. Walking through its historic old town, we experienced the rich cultural heritage of a city shaped by centuries of coexistence between different religions and cultures. In the evening, we continued our journey to Roldán, where we were warmly welcomed by our host families and spent our first evening with them.

Wednesday, 22 April 2026 – School Life and Project Work in Roldán

On Wednesday, we visited our partner school and took part in several lessons. The main focus of the day was our collaborative work on the Erasmus+ project “Witnesses of the Past”. Working in German-Spanish teams, we prepared a podcast exploring eyewitness accounts, remembrance culture, and the importance of democratic values.

The cooperation with our Spanish partners was characterised by openness, mutual respect, and meaningful intercultural exchange. In the afternoon, we spent time with our host families before meeting again in the evening for dinner together.

Thursday, 23 April 2026 – Cartagena and the Legacy of the Spanish Civil War

On Thursday, we travelled to Cartagena, where we visited the Civil War Air Raid Shelter Museum. During an impressive guided tour, we learned about the impact of war and dictatorship on civilians and gained a deeper understanding of Spain’s difficult past. The visit highlighted the importance of remembering history in order to protect democracy and promote peace.

Afterwards, we had some free time to explore the historic harbour city before returning to Roldán to spend the evening with our host families.

Friday, 24 April 2026 – History and Nature at Monte de las Cenizas

On Friday, we went on a hike through the Monte de las Cenizas Nature Park. During our six-kilometre walk, we visited historic military fortifications, including the impressive Vickers guns, and learned more about the military history of the region.

At the same time, we enjoyed breathtaking views of the Mediterranean coastline. Over lunch, we reflected on the many experiences we had shared throughout the week. The excursion provided a memorable conclusion to our time with our Spanish exchange partners.

Saturday, 25 April 2026 – Murcia

After saying goodbye to our host families, we travelled to Murcia and checked into our hotel. During a guided city tour, we discovered the city’s most important landmarks and learned about its rich cultural and historical heritage. We also had the opportunity to taste a typical regional speciality.

In the afternoon, we explored Murcia independently before ending the day with a pleasant dinner together with the teachers.

A Project Against Forgetting

Our Erasmus+ project “Witnesses of the Past” demonstrated the importance of learning from history in order to shape a better future. Through visits to places of remembrance, engagement with eyewitness testimonies, and discussions about the Franco dictatorship and National Socialism, we came to understand that democracy, human rights, and peace must never be taken for granted. The exchange with our Spanish partners strengthened not only our historical awareness but also our commitment to building an open, tolerant, and democratic Europe.

Text: Malte Eggert und Abdallah Alkader

Fotos: GriA, BürM, VanV