Prinzenraub-Spektakel Altenburg

A True Story from the Year 1455

On the night of July 7-8, 1455, the knight Kunz von Kauffungen abducted the two Saxon princes Ernst and Albrecht from Altenburg Castle — a political act that went down in history as the „Altenburg Theft of the Princes“ and remains popular in Saxony-Thuringia to this day. Charcoal burners, cooks, and millers ultimately played a greater role than knights and princes — the bourgeois hero Triller and the charcoal burner Schmidt freed the princes. The Prinzenraub-Spektakel in the Agnesgarten of Altenburg Residential Palace annually retells this very story.

200 Amateur Actors — A „Prince-Thief Family“

The play is entirely supported by volunteers: Around 200 participants — from children to seniors — form a so-called „Prince-Thief Family“. Since 2013, the traditional association Altenburger Prinzenraub e.V. has produced the stagings, always in collaboration with professional directors. The origin dates back to 2003, when a support association was founded for the 550th anniversary celebrations and took over the official festival productions from 2005 to 2011. Since then, the spectacle has become a fixed summer event in the Altenburger Land.

2026: New Play, New Concept

For the 2026 edition, the traditional association is changing the narrative perspective: „Nikodemus and the Theft of the Princes in Altenburg“ is a completely newly written play by the association’s chairman Andy Drabek, directed by Ansgar Schäfer. Schäfer describes the vision as „not summer theatre, but a summer spectacle for all the senses“ — music, singing, dance, and sound are generated by the ensemble itself. The focus shifts to the common people and children: More than a third of the cast are young performers with solo roles. The historical events from 1443 (Kunz von Kauffungen's arrival) to 1455 (theft of the princes) are told, with the new character Nikodemus serving as a connecting thread.

Agnesgarten as a Natural Backdrop

The venue is the Agnesgarten directly adjacent to Altenburg Residential Palace, a historic garden on the Schlossberg hill. The palace facade serves as a natural backdrop, and the town and castle tower are integrated into the stage design. The pre-show entertainment from 6:00 PM invites visitors with a medieval atmosphere, market stalls, and food; the main spectacle begins at 8:00 PM, utilizing the emerging twilight as stage lighting. The atmosphere is enhanced by fire elements, live music, and dance.

1050 Years of Altenburg

In 2026, the spectacle coincides with the anniversary year „1050 Years of Altenburg“. The town in the far east of Thuringia, in the Altenburger Land district, is considered the „Skat capital“ of Germany and boasts a dense ensemble of historical buildings with its Residential Palace, Brüderkirche church, Lindenau Museum, and historic old town. A visit to the spectacle can easily be combined with a city tour.