Peter-und-Paul-Fest Bretten

1504 — Siege as the Birth of a Festival

The Peter-und-Paul-Fest Bretten is one of Germany's most significant historical city festivals. It commemorates a historically documented event: the Siege of Bretten in 1504 by Duke Ulrich of Württemberg. The heavily fortified town of Bretten, part of the Electoral Palatinate, was besieged by a Württemberg troop; after days of bombardment, the defenders launched a sortie in the early morning hours of St. Peter and St. Paul's Day (June 29, 1504) — and disabled part of the Württemberg artillery. The city remained part of the Electoral Palatinate. This episode forms the historical basis for a city festival that has been celebrated in its current form since 1958 and has since developed into one of the largest historical reenactments in Southern Germany.

Four Days, Four Mottos

Each festival day has its own motto, tracing the historical course of events:

• Friday — “Brettheim Arms Itself”: Festival opening, setting up of historical camps, first group performances, market activities begin
• Saturday — “Brettheim Defends Itself”: The “Battle for Bretten” is reenacted in the Simmelturm Arena, followed by the Grand Tattoo (Zapfenstreich) and a Spectacular Fireworks Display over the city walls
• Sunday — “Brettheim Pays Homage to the Electoral Prince and Celebrates its Victory”: the absolute highlight, the Grand Parade in the afternoon through the city center with over 70 groups and 2,500 costumed participants; in the evening, the Plage-Umzug as a nocturnal 'plague' procession
• Monday — “Brettheim Celebrates”: Schwartenmagenumzug (a humorous procession), children's festival with its own program, winding down

60 Historical Groups — The Pillars of the Festival

The festival is supported by around 60 historical groups, organized for decades. Each group embodies a trade, social class, or function of the city's society in 1504:

• Knights and squires
• Patricians and city council
• Monks and clergy
• Market women and men
• Merchants and craftsmen
• Beggars, rogues, and “Krämer & Halunken” (merchants & rogues)
• Guards and city soldiers
• Farmers and villagers
• Musicians
• Torturers and executioners (for historical reenactment)
• Healers and midwives

Each group meticulously maintains its own costumes, insignia, language, and behavior — researched and passed down over decades. A total of 4,000 participants are involved in the festival.

Sunday Parade — The Climax

The absolute highlight is the Parade on Sunday, July 5, 2026. Around 2,500 historically costumed and uniformed participants march through the city center — led by the Electoral Prince and his retinue. 17 floats with a total of 33 horses join the parade. The route winds through the historic old town and lasts several hours — with streets densely lined with spectators. A total of 125,000 visitors are expected for the festival.

Simmelturm Arena and Spectacular Fireworks

The Simmelturm Arena, located by the medieval tower of the same name, is the stage for the battle reenactment on Saturday. A dedicated stage is set up where historical groups reenact the siege scenically — with cannon fire, burning straw bales, and sword fight sequences. Afterwards, the Grand Tattoo (Zapfenstreich) resounds, and a Spectacular Fireworks Display over the city walls provides the festive conclusion to the day.

Intangible Cultural Heritage

Since 2014, the Peter-und-Paul-Fest Bretten has been listed in the national register of Intangible Cultural Heritage — an award that officially recognizes its significance for the German cultural landscape. The festival is organized by the non-profit association Vereinigung Alt-Brettheim e.V., which has been responsible for its volunteer-driven organization for decades.

Bretten — Historic Town in the Kraichgau

Bretten, with around 30,000 inhabitants, is one of the largest towns in the Karlsruhe district (AGS 08215), located in the southern Kraichgau region between Karlsruhe, Heilbronn, and Pforzheim. The medieval city walls, the Simmelturm, the Collegiate Church, and the historic Market Hall shape the cityscape — and provide the authentic backdrop without which the Peter-und-Paul-Fest would be unimaginable.