Medieval Market Burg Regenstein

A Rock Castle Above the Harz Foreland

The Burg und Festung Regenstein near Blankenburg is one of the most unusual castles in Saxony-Anhalt: not built of stone, but carved out of the sandstone rock. First mentioned in the 11th century, later a baroque fortress of the Hohenzollerns, today largely a ruin—and the venue for one of the most atmospheric medieval events in Northern Germany. With its location on a 300-meter-high rocky spur above the Harz foreland, it offers a backdrop that makes any built film set superfluous.

When the Medieval Market opens every year at Whitsun, around 50 artisans, traders, and show fighters set up their camps in the castle courtyards and on the rock terraces from early morning. The market is under the patronage of the association Wotans Wölfe e.V., which ensures historical authenticity: no plastic folklore, but real blacksmiths with real hammer blows, real needle binders, real leather workers, real bow makers.

What the Market Offers

Blacksmithing, needle binding, leatherworking—and hands-on activities for children: candle making, wood carving, archery, and crossbow shooting. Those arriving in historical costume pay reduced admission. There are food and drinks from medieval sources—knight's drink (beer), mead, bratwurst, stick bread—and in the evening, an open campfire with live music from the medieval genre. A highlight is the advertised "Fight Against a Real Knight"—a staged show combat for children that teaches patience and sporting fairness.

Burg Regenstein and the Harz

Blankenburg belongs to the Harz district and, along with Quedlinburg, Wernigerode, and Thale, is one of the central tourist destinations in the Harz region of Saxony-Anhalt. Burg Regenstein is located on the northern edge of the low mountain range, well signposted from Blankenburg. The market has been a yearly constant—it has taken place in this form since the early 2010s and will be in its 16th edition in 2026.