The Brilon delegation consisting of Mayor Dr. Christof Bartsch as head,  interested Brilon citizens and town council members as well as members of the organisation team and the Youth-Hansa team arrived at Pskov, Russia, on Wednesday evening.

The delegation took part in the 39th International Hanseatic Days from June 27th to June 30th 2019. Together with other  members of the Westphalian Hansa Brilon presented itself with its own stall at the Hansa market.

After a long day of travel – part of the delegation started already at 2 am on their way to  the airport – the delegates are now looking forward to 4 exciting days and the cordial cooperation of the Hanseatic towns and cities in the Russian Hanseatic city.

With a spectacular stage programme the 39th International Hanseatic Days were opened in the Russian city of Pskov on a rainy Thursday afternoon, Mayor Dr. Christof Bartsch took part in the festive opening ceremony together with the Brilon delegation. Project leader Ute Hachmann, „Forest Fairy“ Sarah Schleich and Mayor Dr. Christof Bartsch  represented Brilon at the traditional welcome reception of the city of Pskov that followed.

The opening ceremony was followed by a colourful music programme on the two main stages. The Brilon citizens who accompanied the delegation could gather their first impressions strolling through the city. They could already see that the Russians design  these Hanseatic Days with a lot of hospitality giving heart and soul.

After the great opening ceremony on the Pskov Kremlin on Thursday, the Hansa market was officially opened on this Friday. Together with further representatives of  the Westphalian Hansa, Brilon presented itself with its own stand on the Hansa Market. . The delegates are looking forward to answering many questions about Brilon and the surrounding region at the stand. Besides the Hansa Market craftsmen, culture groups and further events  attract the guests into the old Hanseatic town of Pskov. The “Forest Fairy” – together with Mayor Dr. Christof Bartsch – visited  the stalls of the represented Hanseatic towns and cities and invited them to the 40th International Hanseatic Days. Russian Hanseatic towns and cities are also expected in Brilon.

While a colourful fair was the main event on the Hansa Market on Saturday morning the Hansa League and the Youth Hansa held their delegates’ meetings. An important item on the agenda was here the presentation of the concept of the 40th International Hanseatic Days 2020 in Brilon, which Mayor Dr. Christof Bartsch presented to the approximately 200 delegates from the various Hanseatic towns and cities. In addition to that he was unanimously elected onto the committee of the Hanseatic League by the delegates.   The Youth Hansa Team introduced their programme for 2020, too, and found wide approval.

In the evening Mayor Dr. Christof Bartsch, project coordinator Ute Hachmann and the Brilon “Forest Fairy” Sarah Schleich welcomed approximately 250 guests in the Pskov Pushkin Drama Theatre. After a musical introduction Dr. Bartsch presented the imagine film of the town of Brilon and introduced the team of organisers to the guests. As honorary guests the coordinator of inter-societal cooperation with Russia, Central Asia and the countries of the Eastern Partnership of the Federal Republic of Germany, Member of Deutscher Bundestag Dirk Wiese and the consul general of the Embassy St. Petersburg Mrs Dr. Eltje Alderhold  greeted the guests,

„That the Hanseatic Day takes place in Russia in this year and that next many Russian towns want to come to Brilon, is a fantastic sign for the significance of the German-Russian relations and I will definitely be present in Brilon next year,“ she said.

Dirk Wiese is also convinced that the International Hanseatic Day will be a perfect forum for the development of international relations and the reduction of numerous prejudices. With atmospheric images from Brilon and the surrounding region and music from the  Warstein players of hunting-horns the Brilon delegation finally invited the present guests to the 40th International Hanseatic Days in Brilon.

During the closing ceremony of the 39th International Days in the Russian Pskov Mayor Dr. Christof Bartsch was handed the Hanseatic flag by his Pskov counterpart Elena Polonskaya  and the Hanseatic Foremann, the Mayor of Lübeck, Jan Lindenau. The flag is a symbol of the fact that the town of Brilon will be the next organiser of the great , annual network meeting of the Hanseatic Community. In spite of the language barrier the Brilon delegation enjoyed their stay in Pskov very much, not  least because of the cordiality of their Russian hosts. Brilon is looking forward to returning the favour and hopes for a strong presence of the Russian Hanseatic towns and cities in Brilon. For the big Brilon town festival, the 40^th International Hanseatic Days from June 4^th to June 7^th 2020,  about 120.000 visitors and 2.000 delegates from up to 16 nations are being expected. Various performance locations in the historic old town invite with markets, stages and a colourful cultural programme to international meetings. The motto „Hansa.Heimat.Handmade” will be realized by special projects. Thus – within the scope of the business congress- businessmen from the region and from European Hanseatic towns and cities are invited to exchange their ideas true to the motto “ designing the future together”  In the scope of the Youth Hansa the young people will tackle “HandsON” projects and artists from the towns and cities of the Hanseatic League can apply for the HanseArtWorks”. True to the motto „Hansa.Heimat.Handmade.“ the Brilon Hanseatic Days are supposed to be a festival by citizens for citizens und should strengthen the sense of community.” the project coordinator Ute Hachmann explains.At the 39^thHanseatic Days in Pskov Brilon has successfully completed its baptism of fire. Duringthe meeting of the delegates the concept of the Hanseatic Days 2020 was presented.  In the evening about 250 guests took part in the reception of the Hanseatic town ofBrilon, where Mayor Dr. Christof Bartsch  and the Brilon team of organisers showed the new Brilon image film.