Mönchguter Heringsfest Göhren

A Festival in Honour of the Herring

Until well into the 20th century, the villages of the Mönchgut peninsula lived significantly from fishing. The herring, which appeared in dense shoals off the east coast of Rügen in spring, was a staple food and economic commodity for centuries. The Mönchguter Heringsfest commemorates this tradition – not as a historical reenactment, but as a lively family festival with the herring at its center.

What's on Offer at the Spa Square

• Stands with fish rolls in numerous variations
• Smoked fish, Bismarck herring, fried herring, Matjes specialties
• Maritime demonstrations on coastal fishing
• Information stands on the history of fishing on Mönchgut
• Children's program and maritime games
• Folklore performances by regional groups on Sunday

Sea Shanty Choir and Maritime Sounds

The musical highlight is the traditional performance by the Prohner Hafengang sea shanty choir: sailor songs, shanties, and songs about harbour and home accompany the morning pint on Saturday. Maritime program points run throughout the entire weekend, from live music to dance and folklore.

Tradition Meets World Fish Roll Day

The Mönchguter Heringsfest traditionally coincides with World Fish Roll Day at the beginning of May and is part of an island-wide fish festival calendar that extends from Wieck am Darß via Stralsund to Sassnitz. In Göhren, the focus is clearly on Mönchgut: small-scale tradition, thatched-roof houses, narrow alleys, and the long sandy beach of the town form the backdrop.

Organizers and Region

The festival is organized by the Göhren Baltic Sea Resort spa administration (Poststraße 9) together with clubs and fish traders from the region. In the Vorpommern-Rügen district, it is one of the first major events of the summer season and attracts thousands of visitors from all over Northern Germany every year.