Name: Bruder-Konrad-Ritt Medelsheim–Utweiler 2026
Start: 2026-05-25T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-05-25T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Medelsheim — Peppenkum — Riesweiler — Utweiler

Bruder-Konrad-Ritt

About Bruder-Konrad-Ritt

On Whit Monday, an unusual procession sets off in Medelsheim – a district of the municipality of Gersheim in the Saarpfalz district: horses, tractors, and carts move together in honor of Saint Brother Conrad of Parzham, patron saint of farmers, through the Bliesgau villages. Over 1,000 visitors accompany the traditional ride from Medelsheim via Peppenkum and Riesweiler to Utweiler, where an open-air church service concludes the pilgrimage.

Dates 25 May — 25 May 2026

Venue Gersheim (10045)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Bruder-Konrad-Ritt — edition 2026

The Bruder-Konrad-Ritt 2026 starts on Whit Monday, May 25, 2026, at 9:30 AM at St. Martin's Church in Medelsheim. Riders, tractors, and pilgrims will travel via Peppenkum and Riesweiler to Utweiler, where an open-air service will conclude the pilgrimage.

The event is organized by the Medelsheim parish with the support of the Gersheim municipality, the music associations, and the local volunteer fire departments. The ride is officially announced in the event calendar of the Gersheim municipality.

Highlights Bruder-Konrad-Ritt 2026

Horse procession with horses and tractors
Relic of St. Brother Conrad
Open-air service in Utweiler
Over 1,000 visitors
Free admission

Programme Bruder-Konrad-Ritt 2026

Whit Monday, May 25, 2026

09:30 AM — Gathering and opening prayer at St. Martin's Church Medelsheim
Following — Horse procession: horses, tractors, carts, foot pilgrims through the Bliesgau villages
- Medelsheim → Peppenkum
- Peppenkum → Riesweiler
- Riesweiler → Utweiler
Midday — Arrival in Utweiler at the chapel
Following — Open-air service with relic veneration and bishop/friar sermon
Afternoon — Festive reception in the Utweiler parish garden (Bratwurst, Schwenkbraten, beer, cake) — organized by the volunteer fire department and local clubs

Updates: gersheim.de and mv-gersheim.de.

Prices Bruder-Konrad-Ritt 2026

Free admission. Food and drinks at the festive reception in Utweiler are subject to charge.

Practical information

Practical information — Bruder-Konrad-Ritt

Getting There

By car via the A6 (exit Homburg), then B423 towards Blieskastel/Gersheim. By public transport: RB line to Homburg, then bus 514 or 515 to Gersheim/Medelsheim – limited timetable on Whit Monday, check in advance.

Parking

Designated parking areas in Medelsheim (start) and Utweiler (end). Due to limited space, we recommend carpooling.

Admission

Free admission. Food and drinks in the Utweiler parish garden are subject to charge.

Practical Tips

Sturdy footwear is important (the route includes field paths). Sun protection or umbrella depending on the weather. Bringing your own horse is possible; registration with the Medelsheim parish is recommended.

Tip

Plan a hike in the Bliesgau Biosphere Reserve before or after – the orchards around Medelsheim and Utweiler are often in full bloom at the end of May.

A Catholic Custom from the Bliesgau

The Bruder-Konrad-Ritt is one of the oldest religious festival traditions in the southern Saarland. It honors Brother Conrad of Parzham (1818–1894) – the gatekeeper of the Capuchin monastery of St. Anna in Altötting, who was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1934. Brother Conrad is the patron saint of farmers and agricultural workers, and his veneration has deep roots in the Bliesgau, a region strongly shaped by agriculture.

The Ride: Horses, Tractors, Carts

On Whit Monday at 9:30 AM, participants gather at St. Martin's Church in Medelsheim. After a short opening prayer, the procession begins: riders on horseback, followed by decorated tractors and carts with families, and walking pilgrims. A relic of Saint Brother Conrad is carried in a shrine. The route leads from Medelsheim through the Bliesgau villages of Peppenkum and Riesweiler to Utweiler – through one of the most beautiful cultural landscapes of the Saarland.

Open-Air Service in Utweiler

In Utweiler – today also a district of the municipality of Gersheim – the procession ends at the local chapel. An open-air church service with a sermon by a bishop or Capuchin friar follows, concluding with a festive reception organized by the local volunteer fire department and community clubs. Bratwurst, Schwenkbraten, beer, and cake are served in the parish garden.

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Bliesgau

The Bliesgau has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2009 – recognition for an extraordinary mix of orchards, dry grasslands, beech forests, and small-scale agriculture. The Bruder-Konrad-Ritt takes place precisely within this reserve – making the connection between agriculture, culture, and religion tangibly experienced.

Over 1,000 Visitors

What began as a purely village custom has developed into a supra-regional festival: Over 1,000 visitors from the Saarland, the Palatinate, Lorraine, and Luxembourg come every year to experience the procession and church service. Folklore collectors, local historians, and religious ethnologists document the ride as one of the most vibrant examples of popular religious customs in Germany.