Brunnenfest Bad Sooden-Allendorf
Second oldest Volksfest in North Hesse since 1584 – Pentecost Thanksgiving Festival for brine and salt with salt boiling, procession, and salt sermon
About Brunnenfest
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Salt has shaped the town for over 1,000 years
Bad Sooden-Allendorf on the Werra river in the North Hesse district of Werra-Meißner is an old saltworks town. "Salt has determined the history of our town for over 1,000 years" – for centuries, salt was boiled from the brine water, securing the town's prosperity. Today, Bad Sooden-Allendorf is a spa town offering brine treatments, and the historic saltworks is a tourist magnet.
Brunnenfest since 1584
The Brunnenfest originated in 1584 as a thanksgiving festival for the brine and salt – initiated by Pastor Rhenanus, who founded the tradition. According to research, this makes it the second oldest Volksfest in North Hesse and one of the oldest continuously celebrated festivals in Germany. It is celebrated during Pentecost – the religious connection was important to the pastor.
2026 from May 22nd to 25th
The 2026 edition runs from Friday, May 22nd to Monday, May 25th. Four days of festivities in the historic old town of Sooden, the spa district of the twin town Bad Sooden-Allendorf.
Salt Boiling – The Central Spectacle
In front of the old salt office, a historic saltworks and salt pan is reconstructed. Here, salt makers demonstrate in several sessions per day how the brine water is evaporated over a wood fire until only the salt remains. This process takes almost 3 hours – a meditative and spectacular piece of living industrial history.
Pentecost Monday Service with Salt Sermon
The highlight is the Pentecost Monday service in St. Mary's Church Sooden: with a festive proclamation and the traditional salt sermon, which focuses on the historical and religious significance of salt. Salt as a symbol of constancy, as a foodstuff, and as a source of the town's prosperity is embedded theologically and culturally.
Procession and Catering
In addition, there is a procession, culinary stands in the half-timbered alleys of the old town, catering stands run by local clubs, and spa concerts. With its half-timbered houses and the loop of the Werra river, Bad Sooden-Allendorf provides an unusually picturesque backdrop for the festival.
Brunnenfest — edition 2026
Four days of Brunnenfest in the historic old town of Sooden – a Pentecost thanksgiving since 1584. The focus is on salt, which shapes the town: live demonstrations at the reconstructed salt office, a procession through the half-timbered alleys, and theological-cultural anchoring on Pentecost Monday.
Programme Brunnenfest 2026
Friday, May 22, 2026 — Opening
- Festive opening of the Brunnenfest
- First salt boiling demonstration in front of the old salt office
- Catering stands in the old town open
- Evening program
Saturday, May 23, 2026 — Festival Day
- Several salt boiling demonstrations (approx. 3 hours each)
- Procession through the historic old town of Sooden
- Catering by the clubs
- Spa concerts
Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026 — Festival Sunday
- Salt boiling demonstrations
- Morning pint at the club stands
- Family program
- Culinary specialties in the half-timbered alleys
Pentecost Monday, May 25, 2026 — Highlight
- Morning: Pentecost Monday service in St. Mary's Church Sooden
- Festive proclamation
- Salt sermon explaining the historical and religious significance of salt
- Followed by festival activities in the old town
- Closing in the late afternoon
Continuous Program Points
- Reconstructed historic saltworks with salt pan in front of the old salt office
- Demonstration of the complete boiling process (~3 hours)
- Club catering in the old town
- Werra promenade as festival backdrop
Highlights Brunnenfest 2026
- Second oldest Volksfest in North Hesse since 1584
- Historical salt boiling demonstrations in front of the old salt office
- Pentecost Monday service with salt sermon in St. Mary's Church
- Procession through the half-timbered alleys
- Four days during Pentecost
- Free admission
Prices Brunnenfest 2026
Free admission. Food and drinks available from club stands (pay per order).
Practical information — Brunnenfest
Date 2026
Friday, May 22nd to Monday, May 25th, 2026.
Location
Historic Old Town Sooden, Bad Sooden-Allendorf, 37242 (Werra-Meißner district, North Hesse). St. Mary's Church Sooden for the service, old salt office for the salt boiling demonstrations.
Getting There
By train: Bad Sooden-Allendorf station (RB83 Göttingen–Eichenberg–Bebra), then approx. 10 min. walk. By car: A7 exit Werratal, then B27 to Bad Sooden-Allendorf.
Admission
Free admission. Food and drinks available from club stands (pay per order).
Contact
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Brunnenfest
Altstadt Sooden mit Saline und Marienkirche
Historische Altstadt Sooden, 37242 Bad Sooden-Allendorf