Kerwa in Creußen

Creußen — the Stoneware Town

Creußen is a small town of about 4,500 inhabitants in the Bayreuth district, known as the »Stoneware Town« — the famous Creußen stoneware, collector-prized salt-glazed jugs and tankards, was produced here in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Jug Museum documents this tradition, and the Margravial Parish Church of St. James shapes the town's skyline.

The Kreuzer Kerwa

The »Kerwa« is the Upper Franconian dialect form of »Kirchweih« and denotes the patronal festival of the parish church. In Creußen, the Kerwa is traditionally celebrated in September — four festival days from Friday to Monday with the central festival grounds at Zimmerplatz and festivities in the town's inns.

Cellar Tours and Kerwa Specialties

A special feature of the Kreuzer Kerwa are the cellar tours through the historic rock cellars beneath the town — an impressive reminder of Franconian beer culture and the time when every inn operated its own beer cellars in the rock. In parallel, Creußen's restaurants offer their Kerwa specialties: traditional Franconian Bratwurst, Schäuferla, Kerwa-Krapfen, and pickled Hafnertöpfla.

Funfair, Beauty Pageant, and Flea Market

From Friday to Monday, the funfair opens on the Zimmerplatz with carousels, shooting galleries, and snack stands. A second-hand bazaar of the Catholic kindergarten takes place in the multi-purpose room with cake sales. A Kerwa Queen beauty pageant and a parade on Sunday are among the other highlights.

Creußen and the Bayreuth Region

Creußen is located about 15 km southeast of Bayreuth in the Bayreuth district. The region cultivates the Kerwa tradition particularly intensively: many smaller villages in the district (Engelmannsreuth, Haag, Seidwitz) celebrate their own Kerwa festivals. However, the Kreuzer Kerwa is the largest and oldest in the region.