Preservation of Statue and Grotto Secured through Generous Donations for Future Generations
The historic wayside shrine in Dürrenwaldstetten, a cherished cultural landmark, is set to undergo restoration this summer. This project aims to clean, repair, and preserve the shrine for future generations to appreciate its historical significance and spiritual importance.
The restoration process will involve a careful cleaning approach, with high-pressure cleaning and manual labor by Stonemason Ott from Inneringen. The limestone of the wayside shrine and the exterior of the small grotto are heavily moss-covered and covered with lichens, requiring a cautious cleaning approach to preserve its beauty and stability.
The wayside shrine, which houses a Lourdes Madonna and a kneeling figure depicting Saint Bernadette of Soubirous, has stood as a testament to the close ecclesiastical connection between Dürrenwaldstetten and Ittenhausen. An older citizen from Ittenhausen reported that the wayside shrine was already there around 1900, and the residents of Ittenhausen had to walk to Dürrenwaldstetten for mass until the mid-20th century, with the path still passing by the site today known as the "Kirchweg" (church path).
The preservation and cultivation of the wayside shrine as a place of reflection and community have been supported by various companies, associations, and institutions. Donations were made by VR Bank Donau-Oberschwaben eG (savings lottery), Wegzeichen Foundation, Rondo/Walzverpackungen Ittenhausen company, Alb Hat Langenenslingen association, and the Catholic Parish of Dürrenwaldstetten. Bianca Boßler collected donations in 2024 and 2025 for the restoration of the wayside shrine.
Eugenie and Christof Raidt, the restorers of the wayside shrine in 1989, have passed away, leaving the preservation of the monument to the community. The wayside shrine with the Lourdes Madonna and grotto serves as a living testimony to the history and unity of the ecclesiastical village communities.
The restoration goals include professional cleaning, repairing cracks, and preserving the wayside shrine for future generations. Through these collaborative efforts, the shrine will be preserved as a cherished cultural landmark for generations to come.
The restoration efforts for the wayside shrine, a cherished cultural landmark, will also incorporate an outdoor-living space, transforming the area around the grotto into a peaceful home-and-garden setting for reflection and community gatherings. Following the preservation process, the wayside shrine and its surrounding environment will serve as a beautiful example of the lifestyle of outdoor-living and the harmony between nature and culture.
