Medieval festivals in Bavaria – Bavaria

Their definitions are manifold, but no old knight or damsel is wrong to classify the Middle Ages between the end of antiquity and the beginning of modern times, i.e. between the 6th and 15th centuries. Of course, one could also say that the Middle Ages are still going on. At least this epoch has so many ardent admirers and supporters today that you can romp around in the old days at festivals, markets and tournaments, at least in summer, preferably in a doublet or surcot.

It remains to be seen whether this old time was as good as it tends to be experienced in modern medieval games. The level of authenticity lies somewhere between absolute attention to detail (like at the Landshut wedding) and fantasy spectacles à la “Game of Thrones” at the Further Drachenstich. With around 100 spectacles in Bavaria, however, one can definitely say: The Middle Ages are radiant and by no means dark. A selection.

Landshut wedding

“Heaven Landshut! Thousand Landshut! Landshut Hallo!” is now finally being yelled through the streets, in the castle and on the tournament grounds again after six years (including a two-year pandemic break); where this “Hello!” newcomers should sound rather long and unfamiliar in their ears. Was that how it was emphasized in the past? To be accepted, because the association “Die Förderer”, which has existed for 150 years, and the 2400 participants in the spectacle have “the greatest claim to authenticity”. Watches, glasses, smartphones and even potatoes are banned. The city celebrates the “Landshut Wedding” as it did in 1475, when the Polish king’s daughter Hedwig and Duke George the Rich got married. The procession and the lance tournament sometimes take a long time, but that has its charm.

“Living history” is available for three weeks on all days and corners in the capital of Lower Bavaria. The rush is greatest on Sundays for the wedding procession through the old and new town and then for the equestrian and knight games and camp life on the fairground. On Saturday, the day before the wedding, there is music and dancing around the Gothic town houses and the night camp on the tournament ground. Throughout the week, the city is immersed in the Middle Ages: a play about the Schilthack farming family is being performed in the town hall state hall; here there is also music “in honor of the prince” and a dance game.

Magicians, fire-eaters, jesters and comedians cavort at Trausnitz Castle, and a fencing master shows his skills. The “Night Mummery” is a play about revelers who lose their soul to the devil. At “Laudate Dominum” a vocal and an instrumental ensemble play the once very popular song “L’homme arme”. And in the Salzstadel, minstrels invite you to “lust for ears, eyes and stomachs”.

Landshut Wedding 1475, June 30 to July 23, www.landshuter-hochzeit.de

Kaltenberg Knights Tournament

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It started with 16 English warriors. Luitpold of Bavaria had seen them fight in the moat of the Tower of London and invited them to his Kaltenberg Castle to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Wittelsbach dynasty. The Kaltenberger Ritterspiele have grown quite a bit since then. Every July, a medieval tournament town spreads out across the extensive grounds. There is a lot to discover under the tall trees and buildings: craft stalls, taverns and taverns, camps where medieval groups camp. There is always something to marvel at, both during the big parade and on the five stages on which musicians or jugglers play. At the start of the “Gauklernacht” on July 14, they are the sole masters of Kaltenberg Corvus Corax and dance mania mix into new constellations.

On the normal tournament days, the elaborately staged knight’s tournament in the arena is the highlight for 13,000 visitors. It became more and more a spectacle with 300 participants and a suspenseful arc. This time there is a new, supposedly humorous Black Knight named Melwas fighting for the king’s crown. Furthermore, King Lienhart, his daughter Apolonia, the lancer Lienhardt, a mysterious medicus, a monster and Wolpertinger appear. In addition to the most spectacular horse stunts in the industry, the audience is particularly excited about the jousting, in which two knights want to push each other out of the saddle with their lances.

42nd Kaltenberger Knights Tournament, Kaltenberg Castle, July 14 – 30, Fri. – Sat., www.ritterturnier.de

dance party

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King Maximilian I was not only considered “the last knight of Germany” in the 15th century, he is still considered a modern ruler today, after all he created “the Denzel Day to encourage young people”. The city of Kaufbeuren commemorates this foundation every year with its Tänzelfest, the oldest historical children’s festival in Bavaria. The focus is on the parades, this time on Sunday and Monday, July 16th and 17th: 1700 children in historical costumes with 35 floats and 170 riding horses review the city’s history from the Carolingian to the Biedermeier period.

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The Tänzelfest has even more to offer for eleven days. From the “happy opening ceremony” with church service and blessing of the children, theatre, music, dance and our own fanfare in the roundabout on the dance floor (July 13th, limited places!) there is still the historical camp life by torchlight with knight fights, jugglers, food and drink ( July 14th & 15th), the Häfeles market with craftsmen from potters to blacksmiths (July 15th – 17th) and the amusement market on the fairground with marquee, showmen and partygoers (July 15th – 24th).

There is also a large historical children’s festival in Landsberg am Lech: Das Ruethenfest. Since 1647, it has honored the custom that teachers and students broke rods from bushes outside the city gates. Like every four years, the highlights are the parades on Saturday and Sunday with 1000 girls and boys and horse teams (July 19 – 23).

Tänzelfest, Kaufbeuren, July 13th to 24th, www.taenzelfest.de

Further Drachenstich

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The Further Drachenstich is considered the oldest folk drama in Europe. For 500 years, cattle have had to die as a symbol of victory over evil. The dragon itself has been repeatedly modernized over the years, and the current one is in the book of world records as the largest four-legged creeping robot. There is a historical parade with 1200 participants (14.8.) and the Cave Claudium for the folk spectacle. A camp with merchants, armorers and 1000 knights then spreads out in the Chamb floodplain, providing insights into medieval fighting techniques (18th – 20th August).

Further Drachenstich, Furth im Wald, 2.-20. August, www.drachenstich.de

City and castle festivals

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Bavaria is rich in historical walls – and thus in scenes that take guests on a journey back in time. Almost every castle, or what is still standing, has its medieval market, such as the Winzer ruins (with a view over the Danube valley, June 23 – 25), Rabenstein Castle on the high plateau above the Ailsbachtal (the largest medieval market in northern Bavaria, August 4 – 6) , and the longest castle in Europe in Burghausen, to which “jugglers, musicians, craftsmen and blue-blooded people bring back medieval life” (July 7th – 9th). “Spectaculum and Kurzweyl” are also offered in historic communities, from the Frundsberg Festival in Mindelheim (100,000 visitors!, June 23 – July 2) to “Füssen in the Renaissance” (June 30 – July 2) and the Neuburg Castle Festival with brilliant fireworks the Danube (June 30 – July 2) to the Imperial City Festival in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria’s most magnificent medieval town (September 1 – 3). On the occasion of the 900th anniversary of Uehlfeld there is also a medieval market, where “handicrafts to look at” are also offered, including by an executioner – well, maybe it doesn’t have to be that much vivid after all.

Medieval markets and festivals in Bavaria, there is a well-maintained calendar mittelaltermarkt-info.de/loc/bayern/