Hammelburg Courtyard Festival

A Summer Night in the Franconian Saale Valley

Hammelburg, in the Bad Kissingen district, is one of Franconia's oldest wine towns — first documented in 716, with viticulture for over 1,200 years. The Höflesfest combines this heritage into a single summer evening: Courtyard owners and wineries in the old town — normally private — open their inner courtyards to the public, offering glimpses into hidden corners of the town.

Wine, Food, and Good Cheer

In the individual courtyards, red and white 'Schoppen' (wine by the glass) and selected wine specialties from Hammelburg's vineyards are served — many directly from the vintners who use the courtyard as a "pop-up wine bar" for the evening. This is accompanied by typical Franconian cuisine:

• Homemade 'Knobelinen' with sauerkraut
• Small portions of pork knuckle
• 'Schäufele' (pork shoulder) with sauerkraut and potato salad
• Bratwurst, 'Zwiebelplootz' (onion tart), currywurst
• Sweets like cake, doughnuts, and ice cream

Music in the Alleys

Live music is performed on several stages and in individual courtyards. The spectrum is exceptionally broad: traditional brass music in one courtyard, lively accordion music in the next, then a rich guitar groove a few alleys further — and at the market square in the historic town hall area, DJs provide House, Techno, and Electro sounds. This mix of styles makes the Höflesfest in Lower Franconia unique.

Old Town Atmosphere

The compact old town of Hammelburg is a pedestrian zone — car-free for the entire evening. The distances between courtyards are short, and visitors stroll with their wine glasses (deposit required) from one venue to the next. The aroma of bratwurst, the scent of 'Zwiebelplootz', and the sounds of various music genres mingle in the narrow alleys.