Name: Burgspektakel Wassenberg 2026
Start: 2026-05-08T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-05-10T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Burg Wassenberg (Burggelände, Bergfried, Burggarten)

Burgspektakel Wassenberg

About Burgspektakel Wassenberg

From May 8th to 10th, 2026, the Burgspektakel Wassenberg will transform the grounds around Wassenberg Castle into a lively medieval market. On two stages, in the castle garden, and in the castle courtyard, minstrels, jugglers, swordsmen, and falconers will stage a weekend in the spirit of the High Middle Ages. Jousting tournaments on horseback, medieval music, fire performances in the evening, and over 60 market stalls with historical crafts – from bow making to leatherwork to bronze casting – form the core of the festival. Opening hours: Friday 4 PM–10 PM, Saturday 11 AM–10 PM, Sunday 11 AM–6 PM. Admission €8–€12 (box office), children under 14 free.

Dates 08 May — 10 May 2026

Venue Wassenberg (05370)

Prices 8.00€ — 12.00€

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Burgspektakel Wassenberg — edition 2026

Burgspektakel Wassenberg 2026 at Wassenberg Castle from May 8th to 10th. Medieval market with 60 stalls, jousting tournament on horseback, falconry, sword fighting, medieval music on two stages, and a fire performance on Saturday evening. Opening hours: Fri 4 PM–10 PM, Sat 11 AM–10 PM, Sun 11 AM–6 PM. Organizer: Vehi Mercatus.

Three-day medieval festival at the hill castle above Wassenberg. Proven concept of market activities, jousting tournament, acrobatics, and music. The highlight is the nocturnal fire performance on Saturday.

Highlights Burgspektakel Wassenberg 2026

Jousting tournament on horseback
Falconry demonstrations
Fire performance on Saturday evening
60 market stalls with historical crafts
Two stages, medieval music, acrobatics
Children under 14 free admission when accompanied

Programme Burgspektakel Wassenberg 2026

Friday, May 8th, 2026 (4 PM–10 PM)

Opening at the castle gate
First market round, minstrels on stage
Evening performance by a medieval band

Saturday, May 9th, 2026 (11 AM–10 PM)

All-day market activities
Several jousting tournament and sword fighting demonstrations
Falconry demonstration in the afternoon
Fire performance late in the evening

Sunday, May 10th, 2026 (11 AM–6 PM)

Family day with hands-on stations (archery, blacksmithing)
Final demonstrations in the afternoon
Closing ceremony in the late afternoon

Prices Burgspektakel Wassenberg 2026

Day admission €8–€12 depending on the day. Children under 14 free admission when accompanied by a parent. Discounts for families and 3-day passes.

Practical information

Practical information — Burgspektakel Wassenberg

Getting There

By car: Take the A46 to Erkelenz, then the L227 to Wassenberg. Parking available at Burgring and the cemetery; on festival days, a shuttle service runs from the Berliner Straße parking lot. By train: Erkelenz station, then take bus 405 to Wassenberg-Markt.

Opening Hours 2026

Friday, May 8th: 4 PM–10 PM, Saturday, May 9th: 11 AM–10 PM, Sunday, May 10th: 11 AM–6 PM.

Admission

Box office €8–€12 depending on the day, children under 14 free admission when accompanied. Family tickets and 3-day passes available at a discount. Current information on vehi-mercatus.de.

Tip

Those who come in historical costume may receive admission discounts on some occasions. Best atmosphere: Saturday evening for the fire performance. Families should choose Sunday morning – it's quieter and focuses on hands-on activities.

Three Days of the Middle Ages at One of the Most Beautiful Hill Castles on the Lower Rhine

The Burgspektakel Wassenberg is one of the larger medieval markets on the lower Lower Rhine and utilizes an extraordinary setting: Wassenberg Castle, a hill castle originally built in the 11th century on a spur above the Roer floodplain. The former ducal palace of the Counts of Wassenberg is now the town's landmark – with its keep, castle terrace, and extensive castle gardens. These very spaces are transformed by the organizer Vehi Mercatus into a dense medieval world of entertainment.

Date 2026: May 8th–10th

The 2026 Burgspektakel runs from Friday, May 8th, to Sunday, May 10th, 2026. Opening hours:

Friday: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Opening evening)
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Main market day with evening fire performance)
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Family day)

Market, Crafts, and Demonstrations

Around 60 market stalls will feature historical craftspeople and traders showcasing their skills:

Leatherwork, blacksmithing, bronze casting
Bow making, medieval weapons, helmets
Wooden toys, pottery, ceramics
Wool work, felted hats, historically inspired clothing
Mead, beer, wine, and medieval dishes (suckling pig, stick bread, crêpes)

Stages, Minstrels, and Acrobatics

Programs run all day on two stages:

Medieval Music: Hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, shawm, drums
Acrobats and Jugglers: Fire eaters, jugglers, stilt walkers
Theater and Minstrels with short plays about saints, knights, and rogues

Jousting Tournament, Sword Fighting, and Falconry

Several times a day, jousting tournaments on horseback take place on the festival grounds – with lance combats, skill games, and sword fighting. A falconer presents birds of prey in flight. Children can try archery, blacksmithing, and arrow carving at hands-on stations.

Saturday Evening Fire Performance

The highlight is the fire performance on Saturday evening: fire eaters, burning torches, illuminated castle walls. The nocturnal atmosphere on the castle hill is one of the most impressive moments of the festival – making a Saturday visit particularly worthwhile.

Wassenberg – the "Eifel-Maastricht"

Wassenberg is located in the Heinsberg district, near the Dutch border. With around 18,000 inhabitants, the town is manageable but particularly known for its historic center: narrow alleys, half-timbered houses, the keep landmark. Visitors to the Burgspektakel should definitely plan a stroll through the old town.