Kulturtage Burg Nassenfels

Nassenfels Castle — the stage in the castle courtyard

Nassenfels is a market town in the Eichstätt district, in the Bavarian administrative region of Upper Bavaria, about 15 km west of Ingolstadt. Nassenfels Castle, with its striking keep, has shaped the townscape since the 13th century. Since 2005, the castle courtyard has become an open-air stage every summer for the Kulturtage Burg Nassenfels — a four-evening series that brings together Bavarian comedians and dialect bands in a location with an atmosphere far beyond that of classic venues.

Four evenings, four moods

The series follows a proven dramaturgy: each summer, four artists perform on consecutive evenings, starting at 8:00 PM with admission from 6:00 PM. The 2026 program features Stefan Leonhardsberger (Wed, Aug 5), Christine Eixenberger (Thu, Aug 6), D'Bavaresi (Fri, Aug 7), and the Wellküren & Well-Brüder (Sat, Aug 8) — a mix of solo cabaret, powerful Bavarian folk music by women, and sibling bands from the circle of the well-known Well family from the Mangfall Valley.

Bavarian Cabaret and Dialect Music

The core of the program is deeply rooted in the Bavarian dialect and cabaret scene. In recent years, the series has hosted artists such as Dreiviertelblut, Django Asül, Django 3000, Cuba Boarisch 2.0, Werner Schmidbauer, and Martina Schwarzmann in Nassenfels — a program line that emphasizes authenticity and Bavarian identity, with occasional excursions into Irish Folk (Fiddler's Green played on the castle in 2022 for their 30th band anniversary).

The Atmosphere of the Castle Courtyard

The castle courtyard is manageable and intimate. For seated events, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, with the audience close to the stage. For open-air concerts, the inner courtyard is set up as a standing-room arena. The castle walls act as a natural acoustic space, creating a focused atmosphere often missing in larger venues.

An Established Summer Institution

Since the mid-2000s, the series has been a fixture of the summer cultural scene in the Donaumoos and Altmühltal regions. The 20th anniversary was celebrated in 2025 with an extended edition featuring artists who have shaped the history of the series. The focus is not on mass appeal but on quality: four carefully curated evenings each summer, supported by a small team and a loyal regular audience from the region between Ingolstadt, Neuburg an der Donau, and Eichstätt.