The International Centre for Traditional Irrigation in Europe (IZTB) was founded on 31 August 2023 in St. Urban, Switzerland, with the help of generous contributions from private donors, the Canton of Lucerne, the Swiss Landscape Conservation Foundation, clevergie ag and the Oekonomisch Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft Bern (OGG). The OGG continues to support the IZTB.
On 15 October 2022, the inauguration of the International Centre for Traditional Irrigation as European Cultural Heritage (IZTB) took place at St. Urban Monastery. We were delighted that over 30 guests from Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria (areas with water meadows) and representatives from Valais (Suonen) made their way to St. Urban Monastery, along with a further 90 guests from near and far. They were particularly pleased about the inauguration with Professor Emeritus Christian Leibundgut from Freiburg im Breisgau. ‘Preserving a long tradition, living it and leading it into the future‘: With this in mind, Prof Christian Leibundgut, who grew up in nearby Roggwil BE, was already committed to the Wässermatten in Oberaargau decades ago, along with its identity-forming character and authenticity. Until his death (20 November 2023), he remained faithful to the topic and, in the spirit of living tradition, appreciated the fact that young people work in the IZTB Foundation and the IZTB team and share his enthusiasm for traditional irrigation.
The ballroom of the St. Urban monastery complex provided a festive setting for the IZTB inauguration. © IZTB