Name: Living Middle Ages at Falkenstein Castle 2026
Start: 2026-07-25T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-08-02T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Burg Falkenstein (OT Pansfelde)

Living Middle Ages Falkenstein Castle

About Living Middle Ages Falkenstein Castle

From July 25 to August 2, 2026, the imposing Falkenstein Castle in the Harz Mountains will transform into a medieval world for the 16th time. Knight games, old crafts, show cooking in the Old Castle Kitchen, and interactive fairy tales are offered daily from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM for families and children. Admission is included in the regular museum ticket. An event by the association Gelebtes Mittelalter e.V. in cooperation with the Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt in the Harz district.

Dates 25 Jul — 02 Aug 2026

Venue Falkenstein/Harz (15085)

Prices 0.00€ — 12.00€

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Living Middle Ages Falkenstein Castle — edition 2026

Tickets →

Nine days of medieval holiday programme at Falkenstein Castle, daily 11:00 AM–5:00 PM. Knight games, old crafts, show cooking in the Old Castle Kitchen, interactive fairy tales for children. Organised by the association Gelebtes Mittelalter e.V. in cooperation with the Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt.

The programme coincides with the summer holidays — ideal for families with children. Each day features different focuses: archery, sword fighting demos, herb walks, felt workshops, show cooking, fairy tale hour. The overall programme is included in the regular museum ticket.

Highlights Living Middle Ages Falkenstein Castle 2026

Show cooking in the Old Castle Kitchen, MitMachMärchen (Interactive Fairy Tales), admission included in the museum ticket.

Programme Living Middle Ages Falkenstein Castle 2026

Daily Programme 11:00 AM–5:00 PM

Knight games with real show fights — several times daily
Old Crafts: Blacksmiths, bow makers, potters, and leatherworkers demonstrate their skills
Show cooking in the Old Castle Kitchen — with tasting opportunities
MitMachMärchen (Interactive Fairy Tales) — interactive storytelling with children's participation
Archery for children and teenagers
Felt workshops and herb walks
Medieval music in the castle courtyard

Locations

Falkenstein Castle Courtyard
Old Castle Kitchen
Museum rooms and exhibitions
Outdoor areas

Organisers

Gelebtes Mittelalter e.V.
Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt (Operator of the Castle)

Prices Living Middle Ages Falkenstein Castle 2026

Admission included in the regular museum ticket. Family tickets available. Small material costs for individual activities may apply.

Practical information

Practical information — Living Middle Ages Falkenstein Castle

Getting There

By car via the A14 (Aschersleben exit) or the B185 to Ballenstedt, then continue to Pansfelde. By Selketalbahn (Harz Narrow Gauge Railways) to Mägdesprung, from there a 30-minute walk or shuttle.

Opening Hours

Daily July 25 – August 2, 2026, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM.

Admission

Admission included in the regular museum ticket for Falkenstein Castle. Small material costs may apply for individual hands-on activities. Family tickets available.

Family-Friendly

The programme is specifically aimed at families with children. Interactive fairy tales, children's archery, show cooking with tasting opportunities — all designed for children's eyes.

Food & Drink

Castle tavern with classic castle cuisine. Picnic areas on the castle grounds.

Connections

Combination with a hike in the Selke Valley, a ride on the Selketalbahn, or a day trip to Quedlinburg is recommended.

A Staufen Castle as a Holiday Paradise

Falkenstein Castle is one of the best-preserved castles in Central Germany. High on a ridge above the Selke Valley sits the Staufen castle, built in the 12th century, which has already served as a backdrop for several award-winning film productions. It is located in the Pansfelde district of the town Falkenstein/Harz, in the Harz district of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Today, the castle is operated as a museum by the Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt.

From July 25 to August 2, 2026 — right in the middle of the summer holidays — the castle will host a special holiday programme for the 16th time: "Gelebtes Mittelalter" (Living Middle Ages), organised by the association of the same name, is a nine-day hands-on event specifically for families and children. Unlike purely display-oriented medieval markets, the programme here is inclusive: children can get hands-on, and adults too.

Knight Games, Crafts, Interactive Fairy Tales

The daily programme runs from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and includes knight games (with real show fights), old crafts (demonstrations by blacksmiths, bow makers, potters), show cooking in the castle's historic Old Castle Kitchen, and MitMachMärchen (interactive fairy tales) — interactive storytelling sessions where children become part of the story themselves.

The combination of a museum site, high-quality historical education, and child-friendly presentation is what makes the festival special. It is not an arbitrary medieval staging — it is carefully curated living knowledge about life in the Middle Ages.

Falkenstein Castle as an Excursion Destination

The castle is one of the most visited museums in Saxony-Anhalt. It is part of a rich network of castles in the Harz Mountains: Quedlinburg Castle Hill (UNESCO World Heritage), Wernigerode Castle, Anhalt Castle Ruins — all are in the vicinity. Visitors to Falkenstein often combine their visit with a hike in the Selke Valley, a ride on the Selketalbahn (a narrow-gauge railway of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways), or a trip to Stolberg, Ballenstedt, or Quedlinburg.

Important: Admission to the programme is included in the regular museum ticket — unlike many medieval festivals, no additional festival entrance fee needs to be paid. Only material costs may apply for individual hands-on activities.