Nationalparkfest Keltenpark Otzenhausen

Where Hunsrück-Hochwald and Celtic Rampart Meet

In the middle of the UNESCO Starry Sky Reserve National Park Hunsrück-Hochwald, at the foot of the famous Celtic ring rampart of Otzenhausen, lies the National Park Gate Keltenpark. Once a year, the area in Nonnweiler (St. Wendel district) transforms into a lively festival site: the National Park Festival is a family festival, homeland day, and nature conservation day all in one.

Pentecost Market and Stage Program

A Pentecost market with regional producers, beekeepers, manufacturers, and artisans sets up on the forecourt of the National Park Gate. On the stage, music bands, choirs, and show acts alternate – from the Saarländischer Volksmusikverein (Saarland Folk Music Association) and Celtic folk bands to drum groups. The program deliberately targets all generations: while the adults listen to lectures on renaturation in the National Park, the little ones jump on the bouncy castle or get their faces painted.

Hochwald Celts Live

A real highlight is the Celtic Village of the Hochwaldkelten association: in reconstructed huts, reenactors demonstrate how fabrics are dyed with plant colors, how bronze is forged, how pottery is thrown, and how fire is ignited without matches. Those who wish can try their hand at engraving a Celtic amulet or collecting their own herbs.

Nature, Stars, Silence

The Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park – a joint conservation area of Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate – celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2025. Park experts accompany hikes around the Dollberg and the ring rampart, one of the largest Celtic ramparts in Central Europe with a circumference of over two kilometers. In clear air, the view extends to the Hunsrück and the Black Forest.

A Festival with Regional Character

The National Park Festival is not a highly stylized event, but a deeply rooted Saarland festival: many stalls are run by local clubs, the bratwurst comes from the local butcher, the beer from Karlsberg. This is precisely what makes it charming – and fits the philosophy of a National Park that connects the Saarland with humility towards nature.