Ortenburger Ritterspiele

Ortenburger Ritterspiele — Medieval Times at Schloss Ortenburg

Ortenburg is a market town in the district of Passau in the Bavarian administrative region of Lower Bavaria, located in the hilly landscape between Passau and Vilshofen. The Renaissance-era Schloss Ortenburg has served as a cultural center for years — once a year, its castle meadow becomes the stage for the Ortenburger Ritterspiele, one of the region's largest medieval spectacles.

A Living Medieval Camp

An area of approximately 40,000 m² becomes a vibrant world full of knights, camp life, fire artistry, and medieval market atmosphere. Over 550 camp dwellers, merchants, and jugglers populate the historic grounds. In the historical camps, visitors can experience centuries-old traditions up close and even lend a hand — from crafts to camp cooking.

Jousting Tournaments and Fire Show

The focus is on the jousting tournaments with spectacular equestrian combat, show fights, juggling, and medieval music. In the evening, trained fire artists and performers present an impressive fire show. Hands-on competitions such as an axe throwing tournament, spear throwing tournaments, and a Viking chess tournament invite visitors to try their hand.

Program for Children

The youngest visitors also get their money's worth: face painting, braid styling, a straw bouncy castle, blacksmithing, and archery make the Ritterspiele an experience for the whole family.

Ortenburg in the Passau Region

Ortenburg, with its distinctive Renaissance castle, is scenically located in the Passau region. The Ritterspiele are a tourist highlight of the region and attract medieval fans from all over Lower Bavaria, Upper Bavaria, and Austria.