Festival Week 700 Years of Town Rights Leutenberg

Double Anniversary 2026 — 700 + 100

In 2026, the city of Leutenberg is celebrating a historic double anniversary: 700 years of town rights (granted in 1326) and 100 years of the Alexandra Outdoor Pool (opened 1926). Both anniversaries will be celebrated together in a festival week from August 16 to 23, 2026 — eight days of programming in the town area and at the outdoor pool, for the entire population and guests from the Thuringian Slate Mountains.

700 Years of Town Rights

Leutenberg received its town rights in the year 1326 — making the city one of Thuringia's older municipal communities. From a medieval mining town nestled between seven valleys, with a castle ruin above the Sormitz Valley and a tradition of blacksmithing, it has developed into the present-day resort. The 700-year anniversary honors this long communal identity and provides an occasion to delve into and celebrate the city's history.

100 Years of Alexandra Outdoor Pool

The Alexandra Outdoor Pool (opened 1926, presumably named after the royal tradition of the same name or for historical local reasons) is one of the oldest municipal bathing facilities in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt region. The pool remains active and is a defining feature of the town's summer enjoyment. Its 100th birthday coincides with the grand city anniversary.

Festival Week in August 2026

The Festival Week 2026 spans eight days — from Sunday, August 16 to Sunday, August 23, 2026. The detailed program will be published in the months leading up to the festival on leutenberg.de and on the city's Facebook channels ("Leutenberg — City of Seven Valleys on the Thuringian Sea"). Traditional program elements are expected for a festival week on such occasions:

• Opening church service
• Historical parade
• Local heritage evenings with thematic exhibitions
• Concerts and music evenings
• Civic ball or official ceremony
• Children's program and family day
• Ceremony at the outdoor pool for the 100th anniversary
• Fireworks to conclude the festival

Leutenberg — City of Seven Valleys

The city of Leutenberg (around 2,200 inhabitants) is located in the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt in the state of Thuringia, in the southern Thuringian Slate Mountains at the transition to the "Thuringian Sea" (the reservoir region of Hohenwarte, Eichicht, and Bleiloch). The self-designation "City of Seven Valleys on the Thuringian Sea" refers to its scenic location — seven river valleys converge around the city. A region suitable for hiking with a long mining history and characteristic slate roof architecture.