Kreiz Kirwa Kastl

Kirwa — the Oberpfalz must-attend event

In the northern Oberpfalz, the Kirwa (the local term for Kirchweih) is more than just a folk festival. It's a community ritual, a celebration of customs, a dance floor, and a meeting point for the young adults of a village. Growing up in the region, the Kirwa is experienced as the central event of the year — and Kastl in the Lauterachtal valley is one of the villages with particularly intensely preserved Kirwa customs.

What is a Kreiz Kirwa?

The term 'Kreiz' (cross) refers to the patron saint or the location at a crossroads — many Kirwa dates in the Oberpfalz are named this way. Kastl is located in the Amberg-Sulzbach district in the idyllic Lauterachtal valley and traditionally celebrates around St. Mark's Day (April 25th) or, nowadays, usually on a weekend in early May. For 2026, the Kreiz Kirwa Kastl is announced for May 17-18, 2026 — according to the event calendar of the Amberg-Sulzbacher Land, the main festival day is May 18th (Whit Monday weekend). A second festival date is likely to follow later in May.

The most important Kirwa rites

• Erecting the Kirwabaum: On the festival evening, the cleaned and decorated trunk of a spruce tree is erected with verve and tradition — usually on the festival grounds
• Festive church service: Usually on Sunday morning, with the participation of the Kirwapaare and traditional costume groups
• Frühschoppen: After the church service, with brass band music and lunch
• Dancing around the Kirwabaum: The highlight — the Kirwapaare dance around the tree, led by the Oberkirwamoidl (the highest-ranking maiden among the Kirwapaare) and the Oberkirwabou (head Kirwa lad), a bouquet is passed from couple to couple, and the last couple becomes the next Oberkirwa couple
• Festival tent and beer: A local brewery supplies the festival

Bäckerstachelgarten at the Market Square

The festival grounds are located in the Bäckerstachelgarten directly at Kastl's market square — a historically grown garden in the town center, traditionally used for the Kirwa. Small, atmospheric, right in the middle of the village — no Wiesn (Oktoberfest) dimensions, but a genuine Oberpfalz village atmosphere.

Kastl — Market town in the Lauterachtal valley

Kastl (around 2,500 inhabitants) is a market town in the Amberg-Sulzbach district, situated in the wild and romantic Lauterachtal valley — a quiet, rocky river valley in the Franconian Jura. Above the town sits the former Benedictine monastery of Kastl (today partly a school, partly used for church purposes), one of the most important Romanesque monastery complexes in the Oberpfalz. Visitors coming for the Kirwa should take time for a walk to the monastery.

Tip for outsiders

A real Kirwa is not a tourist event — it's a club celebration with customs and community pride. Outsiders are welcome, but should act respectfully and without fuss. Wearing traditional costume is always appropriate.