Burgfest Kemenate Orlamünde

The Kemenate — a Remnant of Orlamünde Castle

The Kemenate of Orlamünde is what remains of the once significant castle of the Counts of Orlamünde: a stone residential tower high above the Saale valley. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Orlamünde Castle was the seat of an influential noble family whose influence extended to Brandenburg and Denmark. Today, the Orlamünder Burgverein maintains the site and brings it back to life with events.

29 Years of Burgfest — a Small Tradition

With the 29th edition in 2026, the Burgfest is approaching its 30th anniversary. Unlike large, multi-day medieval markets with commercial actors, the Orlamünde Burgfest is a one-day family festival: a Sunday in August, with music, jesters, a knight's camp, and a small market — driven by the commitment of the Burgverein and its friends.

Program: Families, Music, and the Middle Ages

The festival begins at 11 am and ends at 6 pm. It offers music (often market music with bagpipes and drums), juggler and jester performances, a small knight's camp with show fights, family activities for children (archery, face painting), and a craft market with mead, medieval food, and handicrafts. The atmosphere is familial — a Sunday outing for families from the Saale valley and the surrounding area.

Free Admission — Supported by the Burgverein

Unlike commercial medieval markets, the Burgverein does not charge admission. Instead, donations are collected for the preservation of the Kemenate — revenue from sales and catering goes towards restoration and maintenance work. This makes the festival a dual occasion: a day full of medieval atmosphere and, at the same time, a contribution to heritage conservation in the Saale-Holzland-Kreis.

Orlamünde in the Saale Valley

Orlamünde is located at the confluence of the Orla and Saale rivers, south of Jena in the Saale-Holzland-Kreis. The small town, with its 1,200 inhabitants, is manageable, but its historical significance as a count's seat is supra-regional. Those who extend their festival visit will find hiking trails, castles, and vineyards (Saale-Unstrut) as complementary excursion destinations in the Saale valley.