Probsteier Korntage

When an Entire Region Becomes a Straw Gallery

The Probstei, a distinct region east of Kiel in the district of Plön, is considered one of Schleswig-Holstein's oldest cultural landscapes – with its thatched farmhouse architecture, vast cornfields, and Probstei Plattdeutsch. Since 2002, this region has presented itself once a year with the Probsteier Korntage: a four-week harvest festival that turns the entire area into a walkable open-air gallery of straw figures.

19 Communities, 54 km Straw Figure Route

Straw figures are spread across the festival area in 19 communities between Laboe (Baltic Sea, with the Naval Memorial) and Schönberg (Baltic Sea resort). The figures are placed directly in the landscape – in front of farmhouses, at roadsides, in meadows, in front of thatched farmhouses and brick buildings. Some depict mythical creatures, others contemporary themes (climate change, peace), and still others classic harvest festival motifs. The 54 km long straw figure route can be cycled in one day or spread over several days.

The Stamp Rally

A special feature is the stamp rally: at each straw figure, you can collect a stamp in the Korntage Pass, which enters you into a draw for regional gift baskets. This also turns the festival into a family game – children can join, hunt for stamps, and learn about the geography and history of the Probstei. The mascot is little Korni, accompanied by a children's book ("Korni and the Knöllchenbande", €1) and special Korntage bread from regional bakers.

More Than Just Straw: The Program

Over the four weeks, additional program points take place in the 19 communities:

• Krokauer Mühle (Krokau Mill) – traditional grain milling demonstrated by the millers' apprentices
• Farm Visits – open farms with tastings, farm shops, animal enclosures
• Palace Visits – including Probsteierhagen Palace Park as a concluding venue
• Walks through the Cornfields – with explanations of regional agriculture
• Straw Bale Singing – open-air concerts among the straw bales
• Easter Egg Hunt in the Hedge Maze – children's program

25 Years of Probstei Identity

The 25th edition in 2026 marks a quarter-century of a festival that has grown from a simple idea – a straw figure competition by Probstei farmers – into a brand of the North German cultural landscape. The festival has positioned the Probstei as a tourist destination like few other cultural initiatives in the region, combining harvest festival tradition with contemporary landscape art.