30th Osterspektakel at Rabenstein Castle

30 Years of Osterspektakel — The Anniversary

What began in 1996 as a small knight's tournament at Rabenstein Castle in the Hoher Fläming has become one of the largest and most renowned medieval festivals in Brandenburg and far beyond. In 2026, the Osterspektakel at Rabenstein Castle celebrates its 30th anniversary — four days of medieval times during Easter, with over 50 exhibitors, participants, rider troops, falconers, fire artists, jesters, and craftsmen. The 30th edition will be celebrated with special program highlights and is a must-attend event of the year for many medieval fans from Berlin, Saxony, and all over Germany.

Knight Tournament Three Times Daily

The centerpiece is the grand knight tournament — and in 2026, it will be held three times daily at 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 5:00 PM on all four festival days. Jousting, horseback sword fighting, archery from horseback, and equestrian stunts from the 14th and 15th centuries: the professional stunt riders and trick shooters competing in the tournament deliver Hollywood-worthy choreography on the tournament field in front of the castle. In each tournament, the audience is divided into four factions, each with its own champion — and loudly cheers for "their" knight. The tension is real, the outcome uncertain.

Medieval Market and Fire Show

The medieval market unfolds around the tournament grounds with about 100 stalls: blacksmiths forging swords and horseshoes, leather workshops, stonemasons, potters, glassblowers, mead and beer stalls, food stands with hearty medieval cuisine (wild boar on a spit, stews in earthenware pots, fresh bread). In the evening — as darkness falls — the fire artists take over: fire-eaters, fire dancers, and pyrotechnics against the castle's silhouette create an atmosphere that cannot be captured by photos.

Falconry Season Opens at Rabenstein Castle

A special feature of Rabenstein Castle is its falconry — one of the few active falconries in Eastern Germany. On April 1st, 2026, shortly before the festival begins, the falconry opens its season with bird of prey demonstrations and flight displays in front of the castle gate. During the Osterspektakel, there will be daily additional demonstrations with eagles, falcons, goshawks, and owls — a rare opportunity to experience these animals up close.

Rabenstein Castle and the Hoher Fläming

Rabenstein Castle, perched on a prominent hill in the Hoher Fläming Nature Park, is one of Brandenburg's best-preserved medieval hilltop castles. First documented in 1336, it served as an important border fortress between the Margraviate of Brandenburg and the Archbishopric of Magdeburg in the late Middle Ages. Today's castle is a hotel, restaurant, and event venue — and boasts hosting one of Central Europe's most authentic medieval festivals. The castle ensemble with its keep, chapel, and defensive walls forms a cinematic backdrop that no stage set could replicate.

Admission, Tips, Travel

Tickets cost €12 reduced, €18 in advance, €48 for a family ticket — and are valid for all four days. Those who want to experience the castle on a quieter day should come on Thursday or Sunday (Good Friday and Easter Monday are the busiest days). Accommodation is available directly at the castle (hotel operation) or in the surrounding Hoher Fläming region, whose hiking and cycling trails are ideal for day trips.