Medieval Winegrowers' Days Steinbach

Medieval Winegrowers' Days — when Steinbach returns to the Middle Ages

The Medieval Winegrowers' Days Steinbach are one of the most intense medieval wine festivals in Southern Germany. From June 12th to 14th, 2026 (Friday to Sunday, traditionally the 1st weekend in June), the historic small town of Steinbach — today a district of Baden-Baden, formerly an independent wine-growing area — will be completely transported back to the Middle Ages. The residents of Steinbach, dozens of associations, and hundreds of participants will dress in medieval attire, the half-timbered houses will be decorated with banners and flags, and the lighting will be reduced to torches and candles.

What to experience

The program combines four strands into a total work of art:

• Customs and local history — Steinbach has a history of over a thousand years, and the festival tells its story
• Knightly games and theatre — mock battles, sword fighting demonstrations, medieval plays
• Music — medieval minstrels, bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, flute, drums, shawm
• Wine and culinary delights — Baden wines directly from Steinbach wineries, along with medieval dishes cooked over an open fire (suckling pig, soups, bread, cheese)

Steinbach — one of Baden's oldest winegrowing villages

Steinbach is a historic district of Baden-Baden, which was an independent municipality until 1972. The town center — the Städtl — is a remarkably well-preserved medieval complex with:

• Half-timbered houses from the 16th–18th centuries
• an old town wall with remnants of the city gates
• St. Jakobus Church as a landmark

The Steinbach vineyards belong to the Rebland Baden-Baden — one of the northernmost wine-growing regions of Ortenau. Riesling, Spätburgunder, and Müller-Thurgau are primarily grown here. Several wineries in the town offer their wines for tasting and purchase directly.

Participate instead of just watching

The special feature of the festival: it is not a tourist spectacle, but a participatory format. The residents of Steinbach carry the festival, and visitors are involved wherever possible. The Steinbach town band performs several times, dozens of Steinbach associations run stalls, and schoolchildren sell medieval crafts. Admission is generally free (a small donation for the organizers is appreciated), and food prices are moderate.

When and how?

The festival traditionally takes place on the first weekend in June — so from June 12th to 14th, 2026. Friday evening opening with fanfares and a torchlight procession, Saturday and Sunday continuous program until late in the evening. On Sundays, the festival usually ends with a joint parade and a final chord from the town band.