Who is allowed to carry Saint Sebastian in the Corpus Christi procession, and what’s the story behind the rivalry between the Upper and Lower Gardening Schools? Anyone who knows the answers to questions like these not only demonstrates genuine Bamberg gardening expertise but also stands a good chance of winning the Licorice Crown. The Licorice Game, a combination of a board game and a quiz, was designed by students in the “Vocational Preparation in Horticulture” class at the Adolph Kolping Vocational School in Bamberg.

This was preceded by a visit to the Gardener and Hecker Museum as well as research at the Bavarian State Archives in Bamberg. Want to have fun playing and become an expert on horticultural traditions along the way? The fact that the concept works is demonstrated by the award from the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Culture for second place in the prestigious state student competition “Erinnerungszeichen Bayern.”

Game pieces collect rings of licorice root
The game pieces representing the Upper and Lower Gardeners’ Guilds and the Häcker Brotherhood can advance on the game board—depicted by the Zweidler Plan from 1602—by correctly answering questions in various categories. Along the way to the licorice crown at the finish line, they collect woven rings made from licorice root. The first person to reach the crown wins.

Following a presentation and trial play session at the World Heritage Visitor Center, Diana Büttner, deputy director of the World Heritage Center, expressed her enthusiasm: “The game is informative, entertaining, and beautifully crafted. We had a lot of fun and can recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about gardening.” The Bamberg World Heritage Center supports the efforts of the young game designers and their teacher, Almuth Quidenus, to publish the cultural-historical knowledge quiz.

Photo credit: Bamberg World Heritage Center