Peace Table 1999

The "world's longest Peace Table" was nearly rained off. But bad weather could not stop Nuremberg's population from meeting up in the streets and lanes of Nuremberg's Old Town and having their cheerful multi-cultural citizens' party on September 25, 1999. About 40,000 people joined in at the Peace Table which with its 7.8 kilometres length made it into the Guinness Book of Records. The people sent out an impressive message of peace, tolerance and respect for human rights.

It all started at 2 p.m. with powerful voices: from seven stages simultaneously, Melchior Franck's work for choir and orchestra, "Da Pacem Domine" (Lord, grant us peace) was performed in a contemporary adaptation. Starting from the central stage on the Main Market Square, about 500 choral singers carried the music around the entire Sebald Old Town district. Then the people seated along the entire Peace Table in long rows of tables were entertained with an extremely varied cultural programme. There were acts on over 20 stages and event spaces. And all afternoon, musical parades went through the Old Town, performing music from the most diverse cultures in the world. People sat there eating and drinking until 5 p.m., talking to old friends and new acquaintances. Then the "world's longest peace table" ended with a final concert performed by world music band "Dissidenten" on the Main Market Square.