Felsenkellerfest Fischbach

Beer, Bratwurst, and Forest

The Felsenkellerfest in Fischbach is one of Nuremberg's special neighbourhood festivals. It doesn't take place on a square or in front of a festival hall, but right in the middle of the Reichswald, at the Felsenkeller (rock cellars) among sandstone rocks — historic beer cellars where beer was stored before the invention of refrigeration technology in the 19th century. This very combination of nature, history, and pub conviviality is what makes the festival so appealing.

History of the Felsenkeller

The oldest mentions of the Fischbach Felsenkeller area date back to 1662, when it was used as a sandstone quarry. Later, the cool hollows were used as beer cellars — typical for the Franconian brewery landscape, which developed its own cultural landscape with its rock cellars between Forchheim, Bamberg, and Nuremberg. After years of neglect, the Felsenkeller was restored in 1988 by the Bürgerverein Nürnberg-Südost (Nuremberg-Südost Civic Association) through voluntary work. Since then, the Felsenkellerfest in summer and the Waldweihnacht (forest Christmas market) in Advent have been held here — both cult events in Nuremberg's southeast.

Fischbach — Nuremberg's Forest Quarter

Fischbach is a southeastern district of Nuremberg, nestled between the Reichswald forest and the Pegnitz meadows. The Pellergasse, where the Felsenkeller area is located, is a narrow forest road branching off the main road, leading pedestrians through tall beech and oak trees to the festival grounds. This walk through the forest is part of the experience — comparable to the beer cellars in Erlangen or Bamberg.

The Festival Under the Trees

Over two days, the Bürgerverein Nürnberg-Südost, together with helpers and local associations, offers a simple yet successful festival experience: draft beer from regional Franconian breweries, bratwurst and sausage salad from the grill, coffee and cake, accompanied by live music. Guests sit at beer tables under the trees, while children play among the rocks — an atmosphere that is otherwise only found at Nuremberg's Bockbierfeste and the Annafest in Forchheim.

One of Nuremberg's Special Summer Festivals

While Nuremberg's major summer festivals take place in the courtyards and squares of the city center, the Felsenkellerfest deliberately remains understated — no admission fee, no loud amplification, no commercial overlay. This is precisely what makes it an insider tip for Nuremberg residents and, increasingly, for Bavarian tourists seeking authentic Franconian life.