Living Middle Ages at Falkenstein Castle

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.