Bavarian-Italian Summer Festival Schondorf am Ammersee

A Festival of Partnership on the Ammersee

The Italian-Bavarian Summer Festival in Schondorf am Ammersee is a vibrant testament to the partnership between the municipality and the town of Boves in the Piedmontese province of Cuneo. In the idyllic lakeside grounds on Seestraße, Bavarian Gemütlichkeit and Italian joie de vivre combine on a summer afternoon to create a festival that attracts locals and visitors alike.

Jousting on the Ammersee

The sporting highlight is the jousting organized by the Schondorf water rescue service (Wasserwacht). Participants stand on boats and use padded lances to try and unbalance their opponents, sending them into the water. Each team consists of a jousting rider, a balancer, and a rower — coordination determines victory or a cool dip. A costume competition with audience voting adds to the atmosphere on the shore.

Music, Dance, and Specialties

After the jousting, the Schondorf brass band plays in the late afternoon, followed by dance music with Italian hits and oldies in the evening. Guests from the partner town of Boves bring Piedmontese specialties such as Minestrone and Arneis white wine, complemented by Bavarian and Italian cuisine, as well as Aperol and Campari. For children, there's face painting, and a portrait artist offers special souvenirs.

Schondorf am Ammersee

Schondorf is located on the western shore of the Ammersee in the Upper Bavarian district of Landsberg am Lech. The well-maintained lakeside grounds with views over the lake provide the ideal backdrop for a festival celebrating decades of friendship between two communities across the Alps.