Mühlenhoffest Pahrenz

Pentecost at the Windmill

Pahrenz is a district of the Hirschstein municipality in the Meißen district (Saxony). The Pahrenz tower windmill — clearly visible in the gently rolling Lommatzscher Pflege — is one of Saxony's most remarkable mill structures. It was built in the 19th century, is preserved, and fully functional. Every year, always on Pentecost, the mill association organizes the Mühlenhoffest — a traditional family festival that combines mill technology with a folk festival atmosphere. In 2026, the festival invites visitors on Saturday, May 24, and Pentecost Sunday, May 25, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Experience Mill Technology Live

Highlights include guided tours through the tower windmill complex: visitors climb through the various grinding levels, watch the millstones at work, and learn about the historical operation of the windmill. There are also demonstrations at the millstone mill — fresh grain is ground before the visitors' eyes. Those who wish can purchase the freshly ground grain as bread, flour, or baked goods directly on the premises.

Family Program and Folk Festival Tradition

Pentecost Sunday opens with a family service in the festival tent, followed by the traditional beer tapping by the mayor of the Hirschstein municipality. The millyard market brings together direct marketers from the region — honey, sausage, cheese, bread, liqueurs — and artisans. Families will find a packed children's program: puppet theater, bouncy castle, petting zoo, pony rides. Musical performances (acoustic live acts, brass music) characterize the mill garden — a special atmosphere in the shadow of the mill sails.

Saxony, Meißen District, and Lommatzscher Pflege

Hirschstein is located in the Meißen district of Saxony, in the historical cultural landscape of the Lommatzscher Pflege — a fertile loess plateau between the Elbe and Mulde rivers. The region is known for its mill tradition (more than 100 historical mills in the district), for agriculture, and for its typical gently rolling landscape with village churches and manor houses. Pahrenz, with its well-preserved tower windmill, is a highlight of the "Mill Route" through the Lommatzscher Pflege.